Using Atrial Cardiomyopathy Metrics to Characterize Atrial Fibrillation in Endurance Athletes

LW Spencer; P D’ Ambrosio; M Ohanian; K Janssens; AM Mitchell; SJ Rowe; MD Flannery; PE Young; M Soka; R Johnson; C Yu; GM Morris; P Lacaze; E Giannoulatou; T Van Puyvelde; Y Bekhuis; M Ray; R Pauwels; J De Paepe; T Robyns; B Delpire; DL Prior; PM Kistler; JM Kalman; P Sanders; AD Elliott; R Willems; H Heidbuchel; G Claessen; D Fatkin; AL Gerche; E Paratz; MJ Brosnan; O Cullen; SJ Foulkes; K Newcomb; K Chamunorwa; P Hespel; S Dymarkowski; T Dresselaers; H Miljoen; K Favere; B Paelinck; D Vermeulen; I Witvrouwen; D Hansen; BOT Eijnde; D Thijs; P Vanvoorden; K Lefebvre

Journal article

Using Atrial Cardiomyopathy Metrics to Characterize Atrial Fibrillation in Endurance Athletes

LW Spencer, P D’ Ambrosio, M Ohanian, K Janssens, AM Mitchell, SJ Rowe, MD Flannery, PE Young, M Soka, R Johnson, C Yu, GM Morris, P Lacaze, E Giannoulatou, T Van Puyvelde, Y Bekhuis, M Ray, R Pauwels, J De Paepe, T Robyns Show all

Jacc Clinical Electrophysiology | Published : 2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.jacep.2026.03.010

Open access

Abstract

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is more prevalent in endurance athletes (EAs) than in the general population, but identifying athletes at greatest risk remains challenging. Objectives: This study sought to develop an AF risk assessment tool from associations between AF and electrophysiologic, imaging, and genetic markers of atrial cardiomyopathy in EAs. Methods: EAs and nonathletic control subjects (NAs) underwent comprehensive phenotyping with the use of cardiopulmonary exercise testing, echocardiography, 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG), Holter monitoring for premature atrial contractions (PACs), and biochemical analysis. A genotyping array was used to determine polygenic risk scores..

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