Exercise-induced bronchospasm prevalence in collegiate cross-country runners.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) in collegiate cross-country runners using a protocol involving an intense exercise challenge conducted in the same environment in which the athletes train and compete.


METHODS
One-hundred eighteen collegiate cross-country runners from the Los Angeles, California, metropolitan area participated in the study. All testing took place on a track at the time and location of a normal practice session. The baseline peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) measurements (best of three) and preexercise heart rate were recorded, after which the athletes ran 2000 m on a track at 85% of maximum heart rate. The postexercise heart rate was recorded and then PEFR measurements at 2, 5, 10, and 30 min after exercise were recorded. The athletes completed a 16-item questionnaire regarding asthma symptoms and health history. Those athletes with a history of asthma and currently taking medications for the asthma were then excluded from statistical analysis of the questionnaire responses. A decrease in PEFR of 15% was considered positive for EIB.


RESULTS
Of the 114 athletes not currently taking medications for asthma, at least 14% (16 athletes) were EIB positive. There was a poor correlation between reported symptoms of asthma and testing positive for EIB.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates a high prevalence of EIB in collegiate cross-country runners (at least 14%) and that reported symptoms are a poor predictor of actual EIB.
Thole
R T
RT
Kaiser Permanente Sports Medicine Fellowship, USA.
Sallis
R E
RE
Rubin
A L
AL
Smith
G N
GN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001250:Asthma, Exercise-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D004777:Environment; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000502:physiology; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires