By Robert Preidt
HealthDay reporter
TUESDAY, July 13, 2021 (HealthDay News) – Athletes are at a much higher risk for the arrhythmia atrial fibrillation than non-athletes, and younger athletes are at higher risk than older athletes, according to a new report from the UK.
Atrial fibrillation (a-fib) is an irregular, often rapid heartbeat that can impede blood flow. A-fib can increase your risk of stroke, heart failure, and other heart problems.
For the study, the researchers analyzed 13 studies published between 1990 and December 2020. There were more than 70,000 participants, including more than 6,800 athletes and more than 63,000 non-athletes.
Overall, athletes were about 2.5 times more likely to develop a-fib than non-athletes. However, when the researchers focused on participants with no risk factors for heart disease (like type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure), they found that athletes were almost four times as likely to develop a-fib compared to non-athletes.
The results were published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine on July 12th.
“Athletes are significantly more likely to develop atrial fibrillation than non-athletes,” reported Jamie O’Driscoll of the School of Psychology and Life Sciences at Canterbury Christ Church University in England and colleagues.
“Younger athletes have a higher relative risk of atrial fibrillation compared to older athletes; however, exercise dose parameters, including exercise and competition history, and potential gender differences for risk of atrial fibrillation require future research, ”the authors concluded in a journal release.
The analysis also showed that athletes under 55 were about four times more likely to develop a-fib than athletes 55 and over. These older athletes were 76% more likely to develop the condition than non-athletes.
Athletes in sports such as football, rugby or basketball, which are similar to basketball, had a higher risk of a-fib than those in endurance sports such as cross-country skiing, orienteering (navigation sport, which is often played in an unfamiliar form). Terrain) or rowing, according to the report.
Previous research has shown that physical activity can improve heart health and is associated with a lower risk of illness and death. However, studies have also shown that there’s a point where increasing physical activity is linked to heart problems, including A-fib.
More information
The US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has more about a-fib.
SOURCE: British Journal of Sports Medicine, press release, July 12, 2021
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