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Airway hyperresponsiveness in elite athletes.
J B Langdeau1, H Turcotte, D M Bowie
1Centre de Recherche, Hôpital Laval, Institut de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de l'Université Laval, Sainte-Foy, Québec, Canada.
Summary
High-level athletes show increased airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), particularly those training in cold or humid air. Environmental factors during training significantly impact airway function and AHR prevalence in athletes.
Area of Science:
- Respiratory Medicine
- Sports Science
- Environmental Health
Background:
- High-level training may contribute to airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR).
- Comparative effects of different sports environments on airway function are not well-defined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of AHR in athletes across different training air conditions.
- To compare AHR in athletes versus sedentary individuals.
- To explore the role of parasympathetic tone in AHR.
Main Methods:
- 150 participants (100 athletes in 4 subgroups based on inhaled air: dry, cold, humid, mixed; 50 sedentary controls).
- Evaluations included respiratory questionnaires, methacholine challenge testing, allergy skin-prick tests, and heart rate variability for parasympathetic tone.
- Statistical analysis to compare AHR prevalence and severity (PC(20)) between groups.
Main Results:
- Athletes exhibited a significantly higher AHR prevalence (49%) compared to sedentary subjects (28%).
- AHR prevalence was highest in athletes training in humid air (76%) and cold air (52%).
- Increased parasympathetic tone was observed in athletes but weakly correlated with AHR.
Conclusions:
- Athletes, especially those exposed to cold or humid air, have a higher prevalence of AHR.
- The type and content of inhaled air during training are potential contributors to increased AHR in athletes.
- Parasympathetic activity may modulate airway responsiveness, but environmental factors appear more critical in this athlete population.