Atrial Fibrillation in Athletes: The Role of Exercise.

There is growing evidence that atrial fibrillation (AF) is prevalent in athletes and even in individuals participating in intense long term exercise at a non-competitive level. Several causes have been described for these phenomena including atrial remodeling, atrial fibrosis, inflammation, autonomic activation, body fluid changes and changes in blood volume and pressure. This article reviews the epidemiology, pathophysiological mechanisms and management options of AF in regards to exercise.