title: Is Performance of a Modified Eucapnic Voluntary Hyperpnea Test in High Ventilation Athletes Reproducible?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is common in "high ventilation" athletes, and the Eucapnic Voluntary Hyperpnea (EVH) airway provocation test is the standard EIB screen. Although the EVH test is widely used, the in-test performance in high ventilation athletes as well as the reproducibility of that performance has not been determined. Reproducibility of pre- and post-test spirometry and self-reported atopy/cough was also examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  High ventilation athletes (competitive swimmers; n=11, 5 males) completed an atopy/cough questionnaire and EVH testing (operator controlled FiCO₂) on 2 consecutive days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Swimmers achieved 85%±9% and 87%±9% of target FEV1 volume on days 1 and 2, respectively, (P=0.45; ICC 0.57 [0.00-0.86]) resulting in a total ventilation of 687 vs 684 L [P=0.89, ICC 0.89 (0.65-0.97]) equating to 83%±8% and 84%±9% of predicted total volume (ICC 0.54 [0.00-0.85]) between days 1 and 2. FiCO₂ required to maintain eucapnic conditions was 2.5%. Pre-test FEV1 was less on day 2 (P=0.04; ICC >0.90). Day 1 to 2 post-test FEV1 was not different, and 4 swimmers were EIB positive (>10% fall in pre-post FEV1) on day 1 (3 on day 2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EVH in-test performance is reproducible however required less FiCO₂ than standard protocol and the swimmers under-ventilated by 125 and 139 L/min for days 1 and 2, respectively. How this affects EIB diagnosis remains to be determined; however, our results indicate a post-test FEV1 fall of ≥20% may be recommended as the most consistent diagnostic criterion.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. kennedy@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Craig D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Steinback
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Skow
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Eric C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Parent
keywords: Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm; airway hyper-responsiveness; cough; swimming