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Meta-Analysis
. 2024 Mar;67(2):329-339.
doi: 10.1007/s10840-023-01574-0. Epub 2023 Jul 19.

Atrial fibrillation catheter ablation in endurance athletes: systematic review and meta-analysis

Narut Prasitlumkum  1 , Nithi Tokavanich  2 , Noppachai Siranart  3 , Witina Techasatian  4 , Wisit Cheungpasitporn  5 , Leenhapong Navaravong  6 , Ronpichai Chokesuwattanaskul  7
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Atrial fibrillation catheter ablation in endurance athletes: systematic review and meta-analysis

Narut Prasitlumkum et al. J Interv Card Electrophysiol. 2024 Mar.

Abstract

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) management in endurance athletes (EA) is challenging due to the paucity of data, especially on the efficacy and safety of catheter ablation (CA). The hypothesis is that the efficacy and safety of AF CA in EA are comparable to the non-EA.

Methods: Databases from EMBASE, Medline, PubMed, and Cochrane were searched from inception through February 2023. Studies with available information on efficacy and safety profiles were included. Effect estimates from the individual studies were extracted and combined using random effect and generic inverse variance method of DerSimonian and Laird.

Results: Nine observational studies with a total of 1129 participants were identified, of whom 51% were EA. Our analysis found that rate of atrial arrhythmia (AA) recurrences following AF CA was not statistically different between EA and non-EA (RR 1.04, I2 = 57.6%, p = 0.54). The AA survival rates after a single ablation in EA was 60.2%, which improved up to 77% after multiple ablations during the follow-up period. Infrequent complication rates ranging from 0 to 7.6% were observed, with no mortality.

Conclusions: Our meta-analysis suggests that AF CA is as effective and safe in EA as in non-EA. In the future, AF CA should be considered as a first-line therapeutic choice in this patient group.

Keywords: Ablation; Athlete; Atrial fibrillation; Endurance; Outcomes.

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