| Title: |
Exercise blood pressure response does not differentiate endurance athletes with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. |
| Authors: |
Janssens, Kristel; Apelland, Turid; Mitchell, Amy M.; De Paepe, Jarne; Foulkes, Stephen J.; Magne Letnes, Jon; Berg Sellevold, Andreas; Enger, Steve; Bekhuis, Youri; Dausin, Christophe; Spencer, Luke; Rowe, Stephanie J.; D'Ambrosio, Paolo; Parr, Evelyn B.; Willems, Rik; Heidbuchel, Hein; Claessen, Guido; Myrstad, Marius; La Gerche, Andre; Master@Heart consortium |
| Source: |
ISSN:2047-4873 ; ISSN:2047-4881 ; Eur J Prev Cardiol. |
| Publication Year: |
2026 |
| Subject Terms: |
athlete; atrial fibrillation; blood pressure; cardiopulmonary exercise testing; endurance exercise; hypertension; Master@Heart consortium; 1102 Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology; 1103 Clinical Sciences; 3201 Cardiovascular medicine and haematology |
| Description: |
AIM: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is more prevalent among endurance athletes than in the general population. An exaggerated blood pressure (BP) response to exercise may contribute to atrial pressure excess and AF risk. We hypothesised that higher exercise BP would be associated with left atrial enlargement and AF prevalence in endurance athletes. METHODS: 178 endurance-trained athletes, 89 with paroxysmal AF [median age 55 (IQR: 46-62 years), 92% male] and 89 age- and sex-matched athletes without AF underwent resting echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing with automated BP measurements. Athletes with hypertension were excluded. Absolute BP responses (maximal systolic (SBPmax) and diastolic (DBPmax)) and BP responses relative to exercise workload (W) (SBP/W-slope, DBP/W-slope, and the SBPmax/W-ratio) were compared between groups. RESULTS: Both groups had similar years of training (p=0.83) and peak oxygen uptake (p=0.34). Athletes with AF had significantly larger left atrial volumes (LAVi; 48 mL/m2 vs. 42 mL/m2, p |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| File Description: |
application/pdf |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
https://lirias.kuleuven.be/handle/20.500.12942/783667; https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwag136; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41807122 |
| DOI: |
10.1093/eurjpc/zwag136 |
| Availability: |
https://lirias.kuleuven.be/handle/20.500.12942/783667; https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12942/783667; https://lirias.kuleuven.be/retrieve/fdff8f12-e058-4558-9c56-1f187a2548f4; https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwag136; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41807122 |
| Rights: |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess ; public |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.F117409C |
| Database: |
BASE |