The Experiences of Endurance Athletes With Atrial Fibrillation: Tensions and Takeaways

Growing evidence indicates that chronic high-intensity endurance exercise predisposes male, middle-aged athletes to increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). The aetiology of AF in endurance athletes is multifactorial and remains incompletely understood. Despite their unique training demands, AF care in athletes remains largely based on evidence derived from the general population. Understanding the experiences of athletes with AF provides a necessary foundation for addressing challenges in managing their condition and identifying gaps in care.

The purpose of this interpretive descriptive qualitative study was to describe the experiences and perspectives of endurance athletes living with AF.

Masters athletes diagnosed with AF and aged between 35 and 60 years were recruited internationally through cardiology practices and social media. Ten middle-aged, male endurance athletes with AF and >1,500 lifetime training hours participated in individual, semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

Three key themes were constructed: (1) tensions with training, (2) tensions with treatment plans, and (3) tensions with clinicians. Participants experienced a wide range of symptoms from AF that significantly affected their ability to train, and reacted negatively to medical treatment strategies that affected their exercise capacity and training performance. Athletes experienced tensions with providers who failed to acknowledge their athletic needs.

Our results highlight the unique difficulties that male athletes with AF face in navigating between training and their disease, treatment, and clinicians. Shared decision-making between the athlete and provider is likely necessary for effective management of athletic AF.