HIGH PREVALENCE OF BRONCHIAL HYPERRESPONSIVENESS AND ASTHMA IN ICE HOCKEY PLAYERS

The prevalence of asthma was studied in a ice hockey team compared wit h both a floor ball team and the Swiss population. Lung function, bron chial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine, asthma symptoms and exercis e-induced asthma were measured in a cross-sectional prospective study. A positive response to the methacholine bronchial provocation test wa s found in 34.6% of the ice hockey players and 20.8% of the floor ball players (Swiss population 16,4%), The provocative dose causing a 20% fall in the forced expiratory volume in one second (PD20) was signific antly lower in ice hockey players than ire Boor ball players, but ther e was no significant difference in the dose-response slopes between th e two groups. Asthma was diagnosed in 19.2% of the ice hockey players and in 4.2% of the floor ball players (Swiss population 6,8%), whereas exercise-induced asthma was found in 11.5% of the ice hockey players and in 4.2% of the Boor ball players. In conclusion, asthma and bronch ial hyperresponsiveness seemed to be more common in ice hockey players than in floor ball players and in the Swiss population. Strenuous exe rcise at lower temperatures may be a risk factor for the higher preval ence of asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness, as well as the incre ased severity of bronchial hyperresponsiveness, particularly in ice ho ckey players.