Long-Termendurance Sport Practice Increases The Incidence Of Lone Atrial Fibrillation Inmen: A Follow-Up Study.

Abstract

A retrospective cohort study was designed witha group of 252 marathon runners recruited in 199092 and a population sample of305 sedentary men recruited in 1994-96. The physical activity was evaluatedwith the Minnesota leisure time physical activity questionnaire. At therecruitment moment, a physical examination, a BP measure and an ECG wereperformed in all men. A maximal exercise test and an echocardiogram wasobtained only in the marathon runners. They were all contacted in 2002-03 andinvited to attend an outpatients clinic to identify suggestive symptoms ofhaving experienced an arrhythmia requiring medical attention. In those withsuggestive symptoms of atrial fibrillation, medical records were reviewed.Finally, LAF was diagnosed on the basis of the presence of atrial fibrillationin an electrocardiogram in the absence of structural heart disease and otheridentifiable cause of arrhythmia (i.e. alcohol, hyperthyroidism). In the groupof marathon runners, a second two-dimensional echocardiogram was obtained atthe end of the follow up. Moreover, a new questionnaire to access the lifetimetotal physical activity practice was administered.