Airway vascular damage in elite swimmers

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2011

Authors

Moreira, André (Author) FMUP; Palmares, C (Author) Other; Lopes, C (Author) FMUP; Delgado, L (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Respiratory Medicine

Vol. 105

Pages: 1761-1765

ISSN: 0954-6111

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 10 Citations

Scopus - 11 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-KBC

DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2011.05.011

Abstract (EN): We postulated that high level swimming can promote airway inflammation and thus asthma by enhancing local vascular permeability. We aimed to test this hypothesis by a cross-sectional study comparing swimmers (n = 13, 17 +/- 3 years, competing 7 +/- 4 years, training 18 +/- 3 h per week), asthmatic-swimmers (n = 6, 17 +/- 2 years, competing 8 +/- 3 years, training 16 +/- 4 h per week), and asthmatics (n = 19, 14 +/- 3 years). Subjects performed induced sputum and had exhaled nitric oxide, lung volumes, and airway responsiveness determined. Airway vascular permeability index was defined as the ratio of albumin in sputum and serum. Results from the multiple linear regression showed each unit change in airway vascular permeability index was associated with an increase of 0.97% (95%CI: 0.02 to 1.92; p = 0.047) in sputum eosinophilis, and of 2.64% (95%CI:0.96 to 4.31; p = 0.006) in sputum neutrophils after adjustment for confounders. In a general linear model no significant differences between airway vascular permeability between index study groups existed, after controlling for sputum eosinophilis and neutrophils. In conclusion, competitive swimmers training in chlorine-rich pools have similar levels of airway vascular permeability than asthmatics. Although competitive swimming has been associated with asthma, airway inflammation and airway hyperesponsiveness do not seem to be dependent on increased airway vascular permeability.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 5