Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in elite football players and assess subsequent impact of therapy on airway health and exercise performance. 97 male professional football players completed an airway health assessment with a eucapnic voluntary hyperpnoea (EVH) challenge to diagnose EIB. Players demonstrating a positive result (EVH+) were prescribed inhaler therapy depending on severity, including inhaled corticosteroids and inhaled short-acting β2-agonists, and underwent repeat assessment after 9 weeks of treatment. Eight players (EVH+n=3, EVH−n=5) completed a peak oxygen uptake (V′O2peak) test at initial and follow-up assessment. Out of the 97 players, 27 (28%) demonstrated a positive EVH result. Of these, 10 had no prior history (37%) of EIB or asthma. EVH outcome was not predictable by respiratory symptoms. Seven (24%) of the 27 EVH+players attended follow-up and demonstrated improved post-challenge spirometry (forced expiratory volume in 1 s pre-test −22.9±15.4%, post-test −9.0±1.6%; p=0.018). At follow-upV′O2peakimproved by 3.4±2.9 mL·kg−1·min−1in EVH+players compared to 0.1±2.3 mL·kg−1·min−1in EVH−players. Magnitude of inference analysis indicated treatment was possibly beneficial (74%) for exercise capacity. Elite football players have a high EIB prevalence. Treatment with inhaler therapy reduces EIB severity.
Source: ERJ Open Research
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $808
OpenAlex ID: W2803032041