title: Is swimming in recreational water associated with the occurrence of respiratory illness? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: This study represents the first systematic review and meta-analysis conducted to assess the association between swimming in recreational water and the occurrence of respiratory illness. Most studies focus their attention on gastrointestinal illnesses occurring after exposure to microbial polluted water. Fourteen independent studies that included 50,117 patients with significant heterogeneity (I(2) = 95.3%) were reviewed. The meta-analysis reports that people exposed to recreational water (swimmers/bathers) present a higher risk of respiratory illness compared to non-swimmers/non-bathers [relative risk (RR) = 1.63 (confidence interval at 95% [95% CI]: 1.34-1.98)]. This percentage increases if adjusted RR by age and gender [RR = 2.24 (95% CI: 1.81-2.78)] are considered. A clear association between swimming in recreational water and the occurrence of respiratory illness was found. The surveillance of water quality monitoring systems is crucial not only for gastrointestinal illness, but also for respiratory ones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy E-mail: alice.mannocci@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mannocci
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy E-mail: alice.mannocci@uniroma1.it; Giuseppe La Torre Accademia Romana di Sanità Pubblica, Via Giovanni Nicotera 29, Rome 00195, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Torre
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy E-mail: alice.mannocci@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spagnoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy E-mail: alice.mannocci@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Angelo G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Solimini
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy E-mail: alice.mannocci@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Palazzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy E-mail: alice.mannocci@uniroma1.it; Giuseppe La Torre Accademia Romana di Sanità Pubblica, Via Giovanni Nicotera 29, Rome 00195, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Giusti
mesh_terms: D001493:Bathing Beaches; D006801:Humans; D011998:Recreation; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013550:Swimming / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014871:Water Microbiology