Clinical characteristics
| Characteristic | Ice hockey players | Control subjects |
| Subjects n | 88 | 47 |
| M:F | 88:0 | 36:11 |
| Age yrs | 18.1±0.9 | 26.7±6.0 |
| Duration of active sports career yr | 11.0±1.5 | |
| Training in the previous year h | 580±270 | 170±130 |
| History of physician-diagnosed asthma | 8 (9) | 1 (2) |
| Exercise-induced bronchial symptoms | 46 (52) | 7 (15) |
| Current inhaled β2‐agonist | 3 (3) | 1 (2) |
| Current inhaled corticosteroid | 2 (2) | 1 (2) |
| Family history of asthma | 9 (10) | 2 (4) |
| Current smoking | 2 (2) | 3 (6) |
| FEV1 | ||
| L | 4.9±0.5 | 4.5±0.8 |
| % pred# | 103.0±9.9 | 95.2±11.5*** |
Data are presented as mean±sd or n (%) unless otherwise stated
M: male
F: female
FEV1: forced expiratory volume in one second
% pred: % predicted
#: reference values for adult Finns 9
***: p<0.001