Abstract
Introduction: Since 2001, the International Olympic Committee requires athletes to demonstrate exercise induced bronchospasm (EIB) to be granted the permission to use beta-agonists. Eucapnic voluntary hyperventilation (EVH) has become the test of choice for the diagnosis of EIB but experience with this test is limited.
Objective: The aim of this retrospective study is to describe the population of elite athletes who underwent EVH at Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montreal and to identify factors related to a positive result.
Methods: 41 elite athletes underwent EVH in our institution from 1/1/2009 to 1/5/2010. Positive tests were compared to negative tests. From 1/1/2011 to 1/2/2011 each athlete was sent a questionnaire to gather further information.
Results: 22/41 (54%) tests were positive. 16/25 (64%) aquatic sport (AS) athletes vs 6/16 (38%) non-AS athletes had a positive test (p=0,10). There were no difference between positive and negative tests in mean respiratory rhythm (RR) (66,3breaths/min vs 67,7, p=0,68), tidal volume (TV) (1,43l vs 1,62, p=0,27) and pourcentage of target minute ventilation reached (%TMV) (78,9% vs 83,0%, p=0,22) but there were significant differences in mean minute ventilation per kilogram (MV/kg) (1,48l/kg/min vs 1,63, p=0,04) and age (19,6 vs 22,8, p=0,02). 7/13 (54%) athletes who reported EIB symptoms during sport had a positive test.
Conclusions: 54% of elite athletes had a positive EVH test. AS athletes tended to have more positive tests. Symptoms perceived by athletes had a poor positive predictive value. RR, TV and%TMV were not determinants of EVH test result but a younger age and lower MV/kg were related to a positive EVH test.
- © 2011 ERS
