Long-term efficacy and impact on quality of life of atrial fibrillation catheter ablation in competitive athletes

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on the efficacy of catheter ablation (CA) for sport-associated atrial fibrillation (AF), in particular at long term follow-up. Moreover, the impact of AF CA on Quality of Life (QoL) in this population remains unknown. We aimed to determine AF CA efficacy in athletes, to assess the impact on athletes' QoL (with SF36 score) and on training capabilities in a long-term follow-up (FU). METHODS: A total of 1215 AF patients' candidates to CA between January 2007 and December 2012, were retrospectively screened. Athletes were defined as patients performing >= 5 h/week of vigorous sports, achieving a total of >= 1500 h lifetime sport activity, for at least one year before AF first symptomatic episode. RESULTS: Out of 1215 AF patients, 133 were considered competitive athletes and underwent CA. Overall, 43% of our cohort showed typical or atypical atrial flutter, which required a more extensive ablation procedure. Before AF, athletes used to practice for a mean of 8.5 +/- 2.7 h/week, while after the first AF episode the mean practice duration decreased to 2.8 +/- 2.5 h/week. At 10-year follow-up, 83% of athletes did not present any recurrent event, and training capabilities increased up to 5.6 +/- 3.6 h/week after the procedure. Moreover, intense physical activity before AF CA was related to long-term AF recurrence rates (P=0.05). QoL scores significantly improved in each single domain (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: AF CA represents an effective procedure to maintain sinus rhythm in athletes, with a significant improvement in QoL.