Comparative prevalence of asthma in different groups of athletes: a survey.
BACKGROUND
The type of air predominantly inhaled during training seems to play an important role in the development of airway hyperresponsiveness in athletes; however, this factor has not been evaluated for asthma.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the prevalence of self-reported and/or physician-diagnosed asthma among four groups of athletes categorized according to the type of air predominantly inhaled during training: cold air (n=176), dry air (n=384), humid air (n=95), and mixed dry and humid air (n=43).


METHODS
Self-administrated questionnaires were used.


RESULTS
One hundred seven (15.3%) of the 698 athletes reported having asthma; of these 107 athletes, 92 had physician-diagnosed asthma. No significant differences were found for the prevalence of asthma: 15.9% (cold air), 15.4% (dry air), 12.6% (humid air) and 18.6% (mixed dry and humid air), respectively (P>0.05). Furthermore, no significant differences were observed among the groups for the prevalence of confirmed atopy, cold/flu or respiratory infections (all P>0.05), except for the prevalence of hay fever, which was significantly lower among athletes of the dry air group (P=0.04). Athletes having a first-degree relative with asthma did not have a higher prevalence of asthma than those who did not (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of asthma was not significantly different among the four groups of athletes and it was not associated with a family history of asthma.
Langdeau
Jean-Bruno
JB
Centre de Recherche de l'Hôpital Laval, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie, Université Laval, Quebec City.
Turcotte
Hélène
H
Thibault
Guy
G
Boulet
Louis-Philippe
LP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013177:Sports; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires