Document Detail


Gender differences in the prevalence of airway hyperresponsiveness and asthma in athletes.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19027280     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Although athletes have a high prevalence of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and asthma, little is known about possible gender differences in regard to these features. We looked at the comparative prevalence of AHR, physician-diagnosed asthma and respiratory symptoms during exercise in female (F) and male (M) athletes. METHOD: A retrospective analysis was done on 2 groups of athletes: Group 1 (n=100) taking part in a study on the prevalence of AHR to methacholine (PC(20)<16mg/ml) and Group 2 (n=698), taking part in a provincial survey on the prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma. Subjects from both groups filled the same questionnaire on respiratory symptoms during exercise (breathlessness, wheezing and chest tightness). RESULTS: In Group 1, prevalence of AHR was significantly higher in female (60%) compared with male (21.5%, p<0.0001) athletes despite a similar prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma (F: 17.1%, M: 15.4%, p>0.05). Respiratory symptoms during exercise were more frequently reported in females (37.1%, M: 16.9%, p=0.02); however, when corrected for the PC(20), this difference became non-significant. In Group 2, the prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma was not different between genders (F: 12.5%, M: 14%, p>0.05) but respiratory symptoms during exercise were more often reported in female (19.4%) than in male (12.2%, p=0.01) athletes. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis shows a higher prevalence of AHR and exercise-induced respiratory symptoms in female compared to male athletes, but a similar prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma. This suggested that the increase in respiratory symptoms in female athletes failed to translate into a higher prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma.
Authors:
Jean-Bruno Langdeau; Anna Day; Hélène Turcotte; Louis-Philippe Boulet
Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article     Date:  2008-11-21
Journal Detail:
Title:  Respiratory medicine     Volume:  103     ISSN:  1532-3064     ISO Abbreviation:  Respir Med     Publication Date:  2009 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-02-10     Completed Date:  2009-06-04     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8908438     Medline TA:  Respir Med     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  401-6     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Centre de Recherche de l'Hôpital Laval, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie, Université Laval, Québec, Qc, Canada.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Asthma / diagnosis,  epidemiology*,  physiopathology
Bronchial Hyperreactivity / diagnosis,  epidemiology*,  physiopathology
Bronchoconstrictor Agents / diagnostic use
Chi-Square Distribution
Exercise / physiology
Family Practice
Female
Forced Expiratory Volume / drug effects
Humans
Hypersensitivity / complications,  diagnosis
Male
Methacholine Chloride / diagnostic use
Prevalence
Questionnaires
Retrospective Studies
Sex Factors*
Sports / physiology*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Bronchoconstrictor Agents; 62-51-1/Methacholine Chloride

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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