Perception of bronchoconstriction following methacholine and eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea challenges in elite athletes.

OBJECTIVE

Self-reported respiratory symptoms are poor predictors of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in athletes. The objective of this study was to determine whether athletes have an inadequate perception of bronchoconstriction.

METHODS

One hundred thirty athletes and 32 nonathletes completed a standardized questionnaire and underwent eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea (EVH) and methacholine inhalation test. Perception scores were quoted on a modified Borg scale before each spirometry measurement for cough, breathlessness, chest tightness, and wheezing. Perception slope values were also obtained by plotting the variation of perception scores before and after the challenges against the fall in FEV1 expressed as a percentage of the initial value [(perception scores after - before)/FEV1].

RESULTS

Up to 76% of athletes and 68% of nonathletes had a perception score of ≤0.5 at 20% fall in FEV1 following methacholine. Athletes with EIB/airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) had lower perception slopes to methacholine than nonathletes with asthma for breathlessness only (P=.02). Among athletes, those with EIB/AHR had a greater perception slope to EVH for breathlessness and wheezing (P=.02). Female athletes had a higher perception slope for breathlessness after EVH and cough after methacholine compared with men (P<.05). The age of athletes correlated significantly with the perception slope to EVH for each symptom (P<.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Minimal differences in perception of bronchoconstriction-related symptoms between athletes and nonathletes were observed. Among athletes, the presence of EIB/AHR, older age, and female sex were associated with slightly higher perception scores.