cardiovascular disorders
Athlete’s Heart
Prognosis for Athlete’s Heart
Although gross structural changes resemble those in some cardiac disorders, generally no adverse effects are apparent. However, numerous studies have found an increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation with endurance and mixed sports. Athletes younger than 55 years are at higher risk ( Prognosis reference ). The dose of exercise at which the risk increases has not been documented in high quality studies. In most cases, structural changes and bradycardia regress with detraining, although up to 20% of elite athletes have residual chamber enlargement, raising questions, in the absence of long-term data, about whether athlete’s heart is truly benign. 1.Newman W, Parry-Williams G, Wiles J, et al: Risk of atrial fibrillation in athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Br J Sports Med55(21):1233–1238, 2021. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2021-103994 