Prevalence, age at onset, and risk factors of self-reported asthma among Swedish adolescent elite cross-country skiers.
The objective of the study was to compare the prevalence of self-reported physician-diagnosed asthma and age at asthma onset between Swedish adolescent elite skiers and a reference group and to assess risk factors associated with asthma. Postal questionnaires were sent to 253 pupils at the Swedish National Elite Sport Schools for cross-country skiing, biathlon, and ski-orienteering ("skiers") and a random sample of 500 adolescents aged 16-20, matched for sport school municipalities ("reference"). The response rate was 96% among the skiers and 48% in the reference group. The proportion of participants with self-reported physician-diagnosed asthma was higher among skiers than in the reference group (27 vs 19%, P=.046). Female skiers reported a higher prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma compared to male skiers (34 vs 20%, P=.021). The median age at asthma onset was higher among skiers (12.0 vs 8.0 years; P<.001). Female sex, family history of asthma, nasal allergy, and being a skier were risk factors associated with self-reported physician-diagnosed asthma. Swedish adolescent elite cross-country skiers have a higher asthma prevalence and later age at asthma onset compared to a reference population. Being an adolescent, elite skier is an independent risk factor associated with asthma.
Unit of Medicine - Östersund, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
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Eklund
Unit of Research, Education and Development - Östersund, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
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0000-0002-8821-2352
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Irewall
Unit of Medicine - Sunderbyn, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
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Lindberg
Unit of Research, Education and Development - Östersund, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
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Stenfors
D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012865:Skiing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult
asthma; athlete; epidemiology; skiing