At the 2024 MedTech Conference, held in Toronto, Canada from 15 to 17 October, Olympic medalist Connor Fitzpatrick shared his personal experience battling atrial fibrillation (AFib), a heart condition traditionally associated with older adults but increasingly recognised among younger athletic individuals. Interviewed by James Brody, general manager at Johnson & Johnson, Fitzpatrick’s story underscored a growing awareness of AFib cases in high-performance athletes, who account for under 5% of the 36 million people worldwide dealing with the condition.

AFib, often considered a condition of the elderly, is being linked to athletes in endurance sports, where excessive exercise can lead to cardiac remodelling and a higher risk of arrhythmias. Fitzpatrick was initially treated with cardio aversion therapy, which temporarily reset his heart rhythm, allowing him to compete in the PanAm Games. However, as his AFib symptoms returned, he sought a more permanent solution: cardiac ablation. Within two weeks of the procedure, he was back in training, ready for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

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The AFib market has experienced significant growth in recent years, driven by innovations in electrophysiology devices, particularly pulsed-field ablation (PFA). PFA, which creates non-thermal lesions to correct arrhythmias, has emerged as a promising technology in AFib treatment. Boston Scientific’s Farapulse and Medtronic’s PulseSelect, both FDA-approved, are expected to treat 10% of eligible AFib patients within their first year of commercialisation.

With cardiac ablation procedures forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5% from 2024 to 2033, advancements in ablation technology offer long-term solutions for patients like Fitzpatrick, ensuring that AFib does not stand in the way of their athletic or personal ambitions.

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