EXERCISE-INDUCED ASTHMA IN FIGURE SKATERS

Many highly trained athletes experience exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB): studies describing EIB in figure skaters, who may be at increas ed risk of EIB due to rink temperatures (7 to 10 degrees C), have not been published. We studied professionally coached figure skaters (n=12 4) for EIB by spirometry at rinkside immediately before a simulated lo ng program and at 0 to 1, 5, 10, and 15 min postexercise. Postexercise spirometry revealed the presence of EIB (a decrease from baseline in FEV(1) of at least 10%) in 43 skaters, while the remainder (n=81, cont rol group) remained relatively stable. Pre-exercise FEV(1), FVC, and F EV(1)/FVC ratio were not different between groups. The EIB group had s ignificantly lower FEV(1) vs baseline at each measurement following ex ercise: baseline, 3.08+/-0.13, 0 to 1 min postexercise, 2.81+/-0.13 (p <0.05); 5 min postexercise, 2.77+/-0.14 (p<0.05); 10 min postexercise 2.78+/-0.13 (p<0.05); 15 min postexercise, 2.78+/-0.13 (p<0.05). The E IB group also had lower FVC: baseline, 3.48+/-0.16; 0 to 1 min postexe rcise, 3.16+/-0.15 (p<0.05); 5 min postexercise, 3.19+/-0.15 (p<0.05); 10 min postexercise, 3.27+/-0.16 (p<0.05); 15 min postexercise, 3.26/-0.16 (p<0.05). Control subjects, however, experienced no decline in these variables. In conclusion, the incidence of EIB in the figure ska ters measured during this investigation (43 of 124=35%) is greater tha n that of the population at large and other highly trained athletes, s ignifying that screening for EIB and therapeutic follow-up are reasona ble considerations for participants in this sport.