Tommie Irewall1, Lars Söderström2, Anne Lindberg3, Nikolai Stenfors4. 1. Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Unit of Research and Development - Östersund, Umeå University, Sweden. 2. Unit of Research, Development and Education, Region Jämtland Härjedalen, Östersund Hospital, Östersund, Sweden. 3. Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Division of Medicine, Umeå University, Sweden. 4. Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Östersund, Sweden.
Abstract
Objective: The prevalence of asthma among elite endurance athletes is high, but less is known about the incidence of asthma among athletes. The aim of this study was to examine the incidence rate of physician-diagnosed asthma among elite endurance athletes.Method: An annual postal questionnaire was sent to an open prospective cohort of elite endurance athletes between 2011 and 2015. Athletes from Swedish National teams, students at universities with elite sport partnership, and pupils at Swedish National elite sport schools, competing in cross-country skiing, biathlon, ski orienteering, or orienteering were invited (n = 666). Incidence rate of physician-diagnosed asthma was calculated among those without asthma at baseline (n = 449). Risk factors for incident physician-diagnosed asthma were identified using a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Response rate was 88.7% (n = 591) at baseline. The median age of participants was 17 (range 15-36) years at inclusion. The study population included 407 (69%) skiers and 184 (31%) orienteers. The prevalence of asthma at baseline was 23.9% (n = 141). Incidence rate (95% confidence interval [CI]) of physician-diagnosed asthma was 61.2 (45.7-80.3) per 1,000 person-years. Risk factors (odds ratio [OR (95% CI)]) for incident physician-diagnosed asthma were family history of asthma (1.97 [1.04-3.68]), being a skier (3.01 [1.42-7.21]), and wheezing without having a cold (4.15 [1.81-9.26]). Conclusion: The incidence rate of physician-diagnosed asthma is high among Swedish elite endurance athletes.
Objective: The prevalence of asthma among elite endurance athletes is high, but less is known about the incidence of asthma among athletes. The aim of this study was to examine the incidence rate of physician-diagnosed asthma among elite endurance athletes.Method: An annual postal questionnaire was sent to an open prospective cohort of elite endurance athletes between 2011 and 2015. Athletes from Swedish National teams, students at universities with elite sport partnership, and pupils at Swedish National elite sport schools, competing in cross-country skiing, biathlon, ski orienteering, or orienteering were invited (n = 666). Incidence rate of physician-diagnosed asthma was calculated among those without asthma at baseline (n = 449). Risk factors for incident physician-diagnosed asthma were identified using a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Response rate was 88.7% (n = 591) at baseline. The median age of participants was 17 (range 15-36) years at inclusion. The study population included 407 (69%) skiers and 184 (31%) orienteers. The prevalence of asthma at baseline was 23.9% (n = 141). Incidence rate (95% confidence interval [CI]) of physician-diagnosed asthma was 61.2 (45.7-80.3) per 1,000 person-years. Risk factors (odds ratio [OR (95% CI)]) for incident physician-diagnosed asthma were family history of asthma (1.97 [1.04-3.68]), being a skier (3.01 [1.42-7.21]), and wheezing without having a cold (4.15 [1.81-9.26]). Conclusion: The incidence rate of physician-diagnosed asthma is high among Swedish elite endurance athletes.
Authors: Rikhard Mäki-Heikkilä; Jussi Karjalainen; Jari Parkkari; Heini Huhtala; Maarit Valtonen; Lauri Lehtimäki Journal: BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med Date: 2022-05-12
Authors: Alasdair S Tutt; Hampus Persson; Erik P Andersson; Mats Ainegren; Nikolai Stenfors; Helen G Hanstock Journal: Eur J Appl Physiol Date: 2021-03-29 Impact factor: 3.078