Limitations
The main limitation of the study is an observational, non-randomized, retrospective, low sample size design. The low sample size affected also statistical power and it prevented to analyze if there were any differences in outcome depending on type of sport and time distance between AF diagnosis and CA time. Furthermore, assessment of recrudescence was performed mainly with 24-hour Holter monitoring and asymptomatic AF episodes may have been lost. However, athletes tended to be more often symptomatic than NA and asymptomatic AF should not have significantly affected success rate in athletes. CTI concomitant ablation was left to operator choice and it may have affected final results. Further prospective studies with a larger number of patients are required.