title: Impact of a Short-Term Water Abstinence on Airway Hyperresponsiveness in Elite Swimmers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of a swimming break on airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and to evaluate perception of bronchoconstriction-related symptoms after methacholine challenge testing (MCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational, controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University department.
  
  
  METHODS
  Overall, 25 healthy, elite, competitive swimmers aged ≥14 years from the local Olympic training center and 25 healthy control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Duration of water abstinence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary outcome measures were a positive MCT with a provocation dose (PD) and the perception score of bronchoconstriction-related symptoms at visit 1 (V1, training period) and visit 2 (V2, after swimming break).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the study, 13 swimmers (52%) and 10 control subjects (40%) showed AHR. The PD did not differ significantly between V1 and V2 in the swimmers (P = 0.81) or in the control subjects (P = 0.74). No correlation of fraction of exhaled nitric oxide with the PD could be established in both the groups (swimmers: P = 0.97; controls: P = 0.99). The majority of swimmers with AHR were asymptomatic, and only minimal differences in perception of bronchoconstriction-related symptoms between swimmers and control subjects were observed (P = 0.23).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A swimming break of 25 ± 8 days does not seem sufficient to significantly reduce AHR in elite swimmers. Thus, relevant and systematic effects of short-term water abstinence on AHR seem unlikely. Because the majority of swimmers remain asymptomatic, AHR may escape routine screening examinations. The impact of AHR on athletic performance and the long-term clinical consequences remain to be clarified.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bohm
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hecksteden
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D016084:Bronchoconstriction; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012146:Rest; D013550:Swimming; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide