Self-reported physician-diagnosed asthma among Swedish adolescent, adult and former elite endurance athletes

Abstract

Objective: Asthma is common among elite endurance athletes. Since the first published Swedish studies in 1993, awareness of “skiers' asthma” has increased. The current prevalence of asthma among Swedish skiers is unknown. This paper aims to present the design of a 5-year prospective annual questionnaire study on asthma among Swedish current and former elite endurance athletes, the first cross-sectional results on prevalence, age of onset, and predictors of self-reported physician-diagnosed asthma in the study population. Methods: An annual postal questionnaire is sent to Swedish elite skiers and orienteers during 2011–2015. In 2013, former Swedish Olympic skiers were similarly invited. We present cross-sectional data obtained in 2011 from the adolescents and adults and in 2013 from former skiers. A total of 491 athletes were invited. The results are presented by age, sex and sport. Chi-square test was used for group comparisons. Predictors of asthma were identified using logistic regression. Results: Response rate was 82%. Among athletes aged 15–19, 29% of the skiers (38% of the female skiers), and 17% of the orienteers reported asthma (p = 0.071). Among the athletes aged 20–34, 35% of the skiers and 16% of the orienteers reported asthma (p = 0.029). Among the former skiers aged 40–94, 22% reported asthma. Among the active athletes, the onset of asthma was in early adolescence. Logistic regression found increasing age, female sex, allergy, family history of allergy/asthma and being skier predictors of self-reported physician-diagnosed asthma. Conclusions: The prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma is high among Swedish endurance athletes, especially female adolescent skiers.

• Airway symptoms
• epidemiology
• medication
• orienteers
• risk factors
• skiers

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Erik Hedman, resident physician, Dept of Medicine, Östersund Hospital, for data collection; coaches at the Swedish National Elite Sport Schools, national teams, and ski universities for recruitment and data collection; the Swedish Ski Association, Biathlon Association, Swedish Orienteering Federation, and Swedish Olympic Committee for recruitment and general support.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.