Elite female endurance athletes at higher risk of developing AF

The key points of the summary are:

• There were 228 female athletes and 1368 reference individuals. The mean age was 32 years.
• The athlete cohort combined all Swedish women running Stockholm Marathon faster than 3 hours 15 min in races between 1979 and 1991, all women competing in the Swedish athletic national championships in the 10 000 metre race, and the top-ranked Swedish cyclists.
• National Patient Register was used to determine AF diagnosis.
• Follow up duration was 28 years.
• 33 cases got AF were diagnosed among 10 Athletes and 23 references constituting 4.4 % and 1.7 % respectively.
• The HR for female athletes was 2.56 (univariable model)and 3.67 ( after adjustment for hypertension).

Concluding further, they said, the risk of AF is greater in Elite female endurance athletes compared to the general population.

The study could not demonstrate a link due to a Small number of atrial fibrillation diagnoses.

Swedish nonprofit organizations funded the study.

Further reading:

https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2023/07/10/bjsports-2022-106035