RT-223
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May top-level athletes complain
of atrial fibrillation?
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A. Bertoldi*, F. Furlanello, M.
Dallago*, A. Galassi, F. Fernando**, C. Pappone, S. Chierchia.
S. Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan-Rome, *Division of Cardiology, S. Chiara Hospital,
Trento, **Sports Science Institute, Italian National Olympic Committee, Rome, Italy
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Introduction
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Cardiovascular conditioning due to athletic training
modifies the atrial electrophysical properties, the sinus node function and the AV
conduction and it may make athletes, particularly the older, more vulnerable to atrial
fibrillation1.
The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in young competitive athletes has yet not
well established, even if it is probably higher than in the general population of the same
age2-9.
Over the past 23 years, we have been using a work-up for a large population of young
competitive athletes studied for arrhythmic manifestations endangering the prosecution of
athletic activity10-12. Among this selected athletic
population, an impressive cohort of young top-level competitive professional athletes is
present that includes olympic athletes, mayor national league players, including national,
European, olympic, world champions9-15. Several
athletes, both from general population and the top-level athletes (TLA) cohort, were
studied for episodes of long lasting palpitations of supraventricular origin and few for a
persistent permanent supraventricular tachyarrhythmia.
The aim of this paper is to describe prevalence and behaviour of AF, paroxysmal (PAF)
or persistent permanent (PPAF), in the TLA subgroup, with particular regard to the
clinical and diagnostic approach and the consequences of the arrhythmia on sport career.
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