Exercise in elite summer athletes: Challenges for diagnosis

Abstract

Background: There is a high prevalence of asthma and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in elite athletes when the diagnosis is based on symptoms and medication use. Objective measurements are now required by some sporting bodies to support a diagnosis of asthma or EIB to justify use of β-agonists. Such measurements could include bronchial provocation with methacholine, with eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea (EVH) of dry air (a surrogate for exercise), or both. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between asthma symptoms and responses to methacholine and the EVH challenge in a group of unselected elite summer-sport athletes. The outcome would be to inform pr..