A great podcast critically reviewing the latest cycling science

Episode 18 – Atrial fibrillation in cyclists, interview with Prof Gerry McCann

Posted on by Prof D

In this episode I speak to Prof Gerry McCann who is a heart specialist with a subspecialist interest in MRI scanning; he conducts experimental research in people to better understand heart disease and clinical trials to assess the optimal investigation strategies and treatments for patients with, or at risk of developing, heart disease.

Professor McCann is the Cardiovascular theme lead for NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, the immediate past-chair of the British Society of Cardiovascular MRI research group, lead of the PhOSP-COVID cardiovascular working group and East Midlands Cardiovascular Clinical Research network.

Gerry and I actually studied together at Glasgow University and in this interview we discuss atrial fibrillation, or AF as it is known, as it relates to cyclists. There is some evidence that high volumes of endurance training like cycling may be a contributory factor the the development of atrial fibrillation therefore we discuss exactly what it is, what are the specific risks and potential treatments.

References

Andersen, Kasper, Bahman Farahmand, Anders Ahlbom, Claes Held, Sverker Ljunghall, Karl Michaëlsson, and Johan Sundström. 2013. ‘Risk of Arrhythmias in 52 755 Long-Distance Cross-Country Skiers: A Cohort Study’. European Heart Journal 34 (47): 3624–31. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/eht188.

Woodward, Alistair, Sandar Tin Tin, Rob N Doughty, and Shanthi Ameratunga. 2015. ‘Atrial Fibrillation and Cycling: Six Year Follow-up of the Taupo Bicycle Study’. BMC Public Health 15 (January): 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-014-1341-6.

Sanna, Giuseppe D., Eleonora Gabrielli, Elena De Vito, Giuseppe Nusdeo, Domenico Prisco, and Guido Parodi. 2018. ‘Atrial Fibrillation in Athletes: From Epidemiology to Treatment in the Novel Oral Anticoagulants Era’. Journal of Cardiology 72 (4): 269–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jjcc.2018.04.011.

Ricci, Cristian, Federico Gervasi, Maddalena Gaeta, Cornelius M Smuts, Aletta E Schutte, and Michael F Leitzmann. 2018. ‘Physical Activity Volume in Relation to Risk of Atrial Fibrillation. A Non-Linear Meta-Regression Analysis’. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology 25 (8): 857–66. https://doi.org/10.1177/2047487318768026.