Stroke in Athletes with Atrial Fibrillation: A Narrative Review
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia, linked with a significantly heightened risk of stroke. While moderate exercise reduces AF risk, high-level endurance athletes paradoxically exhibit a higher incidence. However, their stroke risk remains uncertain due to their younger...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | Diagnostics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/1/9 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1841549308689645568 |
|---|---|
| author | Joana Certo Pereira Maria Rita Lima Francisco Moscoso Costa Daniel A. Gomes Sérgio Maltês Gonçalo Cunha Hélder Dores Pedro Adragão |
| author_facet | Joana Certo Pereira Maria Rita Lima Francisco Moscoso Costa Daniel A. Gomes Sérgio Maltês Gonçalo Cunha Hélder Dores Pedro Adragão |
| author_sort | Joana Certo Pereira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia, linked with a significantly heightened risk of stroke. While moderate exercise reduces AF risk, high-level endurance athletes paradoxically exhibit a higher incidence. However, their stroke risk remains uncertain due to their younger age, higher cardiovascular fitness, and lower rate of comorbidities. Several key studies highlight that AF may increase the risk of stroke in endurance athletes, particularly those over 65. However, the overall risk within this population remains relatively low. Notably, older male athletes show a higher AF incidence but experience lower stroke risk than their non-athletic counterparts. Regular physical activity prior to a first stroke appears to reduce mortality, though recurrent stroke risk in athletes with AF mirrors that of non-athletes, despite an elevated AF incidence. Management of AF in athletes is complex, with limited evidence guiding anti-thrombotic strategies. In this setting, specific recommendations are sparse, particularly in sports where bleeding risk is heightened. Individualized management, emphasizing shared decision-making, is critical to balance stroke prevention with athletic performance. Rhythm control strategies, such as catheter ablation, may be a reasonable first-line treatment option for athletes, particularly in those desiring to avoid long-term medication. This review synthesizes the current literature on the incidence, predictors, and management of stroke in athletes with AF. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e07261ee28134ffea1b243ae11521b35 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-4418 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diagnostics |
| spelling | doaj-art-e07261ee28134ffea1b243ae11521b352025-01-10T13:16:26ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182024-12-01151910.3390/diagnostics15010009Stroke in Athletes with Atrial Fibrillation: A Narrative ReviewJoana Certo Pereira0Maria Rita Lima1Francisco Moscoso Costa2Daniel A. Gomes3Sérgio Maltês4Gonçalo Cunha5Hélder Dores6Pedro Adragão7Hospital de Santa Cruz, 2790-134 Lisbon, PortugalHospital de Santa Cruz, 2790-134 Lisbon, PortugalHospital de Santa Cruz, 2790-134 Lisbon, PortugalHospital de Santa Cruz, 2790-134 Lisbon, PortugalHospital de Santa Cruz, 2790-134 Lisbon, PortugalHospital de Santa Cruz, 2790-134 Lisbon, PortugalHospital da Luz, 1500-650 Lisbon, PortugalHospital de Santa Cruz, 2790-134 Lisbon, PortugalAtrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia, linked with a significantly heightened risk of stroke. While moderate exercise reduces AF risk, high-level endurance athletes paradoxically exhibit a higher incidence. However, their stroke risk remains uncertain due to their younger age, higher cardiovascular fitness, and lower rate of comorbidities. Several key studies highlight that AF may increase the risk of stroke in endurance athletes, particularly those over 65. However, the overall risk within this population remains relatively low. Notably, older male athletes show a higher AF incidence but experience lower stroke risk than their non-athletic counterparts. Regular physical activity prior to a first stroke appears to reduce mortality, though recurrent stroke risk in athletes with AF mirrors that of non-athletes, despite an elevated AF incidence. Management of AF in athletes is complex, with limited evidence guiding anti-thrombotic strategies. In this setting, specific recommendations are sparse, particularly in sports where bleeding risk is heightened. Individualized management, emphasizing shared decision-making, is critical to balance stroke prevention with athletic performance. Rhythm control strategies, such as catheter ablation, may be a reasonable first-line treatment option for athletes, particularly in those desiring to avoid long-term medication. This review synthesizes the current literature on the incidence, predictors, and management of stroke in athletes with AF.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/1/9athletesstrokeatrial fibrillation |
| spellingShingle | Joana Certo Pereira Maria Rita Lima Francisco Moscoso Costa Daniel A. Gomes Sérgio Maltês Gonçalo Cunha Hélder Dores Pedro Adragão Stroke in Athletes with Atrial Fibrillation: A Narrative Review Diagnostics athletes stroke atrial fibrillation |
| title | Stroke in Athletes with Atrial Fibrillation: A Narrative Review |
| title_full | Stroke in Athletes with Atrial Fibrillation: A Narrative Review |
| title_fullStr | Stroke in Athletes with Atrial Fibrillation: A Narrative Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stroke in Athletes with Atrial Fibrillation: A Narrative Review |
| title_short | Stroke in Athletes with Atrial Fibrillation: A Narrative Review |
| title_sort | stroke in athletes with atrial fibrillation a narrative review |
| topic | athletes stroke atrial fibrillation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/1/9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT joanacertopereira strokeinathleteswithatrialfibrillationanarrativereview AT mariaritalima strokeinathleteswithatrialfibrillationanarrativereview AT franciscomoscosocosta strokeinathleteswithatrialfibrillationanarrativereview AT danielagomes strokeinathleteswithatrialfibrillationanarrativereview AT sergiomaltes strokeinathleteswithatrialfibrillationanarrativereview AT goncalocunha strokeinathleteswithatrialfibrillationanarrativereview AT helderdores strokeinathleteswithatrialfibrillationanarrativereview AT pedroadragao strokeinathleteswithatrialfibrillationanarrativereview |