Airway inflammation, cough and athlete quality of life in elite female cross-country skiers: A longitudinal study.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a season of cross-country training and racing on airway inflammation, cough symptoms, and athlete quality of life in female skiers. Eighteen elite female skiers performed sputum induction and completed the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) and the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire (REST-Q) at three time points (T1 - May/Jun, T2 - Oct/Nov, T3 - Jan-Mar) during the year. No changes were observed between T1 and T2. However, an increase in sputum eosinophils and lymphocytes (P < 0.05) and a significant change in all three domains of the LCQ were observed between T1 and T3 (P < 0.05). A significant association was found between the total yearly hours of training and the change in the total cell count (r(2)  = 0.74; P = 0.006), and a number of other sputum cell counts between T1 and T3. No changes were observed for any domain of the REST-Q. The results of this study demonstrate that airway inflammation and cough symptoms are significantly increased in elite female cross-country skiers across a year of training and racing. The increase in airway inflammation is related to the total amount of training and is worse during the winter months when athletes are training and racing in cold, dry air.
Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
M D
MD
Kennedy
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
W J
WJ
Davidson
Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Development, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.
L E
LE
Wong
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
S L
SL
Traves
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
R
R
Leigh
Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Development, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.
N D
ND
Eves
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D003371:Cough / Q000276:immunology*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000276:immunology*; D012865:Skiing; D013183:Sputum / Q000166:cytology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
Leicester Cough Questionnaire; Nordic skiing; Recovery-Stress Questionnaire; exercise; sputum