NCT06844656Not yet recruiting
Understanding the Increased Risk of Atrial Fibrillation in Athletes: a Case-control Study
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 25 Feb 2025 · Not updated for over 12 months - ask the site whether it is still open
Brief summary (registry, in English)
Exercise is beneficial to heart health, however, there appears to be a 'U' shaped relationship where too much exercise may increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm, called atrial fibrillation. Endurance athletes may have up to a 2.5-fold higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation than non-athletic controls. The mechanisms behind this increased risk of atrial fibrillation are not the well understood. It is thought to be a mixture of enlarged heart chambers, low resting heart rate, genetic predisposition and possibly scarring in the heart. In this study, the investigators will investigate the electrical activity changes in the heart, using a high-quality electrocardiogram (ECG) and relate this to changes in the heart size measured by ultrasound and MRI. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing will determine fitness (V̇O2 max) and assess the heart's electrical activity during exercise. This will be a case-control study where athletes with and without atrial fibrillation will be recruited. The investigators hope the results of this study can improve our understanding of atrial fibrillation in athletes by associating atrial fibrillation with structural and electrical differences which may aid the prediction of future atrial fibrillation development and help guide more athlete-specific treatment pathways.
- Status (registry)
- Not yet recruiting
- Study type
- Observational
- Enrollment
- 200 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 27 Jan 2025
- Start date
- 28 Feb 2025
- Primary completion date
- 10 Oct 2026
- Lead sponsor
- University of Leicester
- Diseases
- Atrial fibrillation
- NCT number
- NCT06844656
What you commit to
- Study type: Observational
- Planned participants: 200
- From 28 Feb 2025 to the primary completion date, 10 Oct 2026
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- History of pre-existing cardiovascular disease :
- Atherosclerotic disease: previous myocardial infarction, symptomatic coronary artery disease or Peripheral peripheral arterial disease
- Left ventricular systolic dysfunction (EF \< 45%)
- Heart muscle disease: cardiomyopathies, Infiltrative diseases of the heart
- Complex Congenital heart disease
- Moderate or severe valvular disease
- Uncontrolled hypertension (\>180/100mmHg)
Other
- Permanent atrial fibrillation.
Who the study is looking for
- ≥18 years of age at the time of enrolment, male and female.
- History of atrial fibrillation confirmed on ECG - either paroxysmal or persistent.
- Competitive athlete. Defined as:
- Competed in endurance sports with a total cumulative moderate to high intensity of \> 1500 hours.
- Have participated in at least one competitive event in the last 10 years.
Age in the registry: 18 years to - · Sex: All · Accepts healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Cardiovascular Sciences. University of Leicester. Glenfield Hospital. Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Leicester | United Kingdom | Unknown status |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.