Abstract
Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is a common complication of athletes and individuals who exercise regularly. It is estimated that about 90% of patients with underlying asthma (a sexually dimorphic disease) experience EIB; however, sex differences in EIB have not been studied extensively. With the goal of better understanding the prevalence of EIB in males and females, and because atopy has been reported to occur at higher rates in athletes, in this study, we investigated sex differences in EIB and atopy in athletes. A systematic literature review identified 60 studies evaluating EIB and/or atopy in post-pubertal adult athletes (n = 7501). Collectively, these studies reported: (1) a 23% prevalence of EIB in athletes; (2) a higher prevalence of atopy in male vs. female athletes; (3) a higher prevalence of atopy in athletes with EIB; (4) a significantly higher rate of atopic EIB in male vs. female athletes. Our analysis indicates that the physiological changes that occur during exercise may differentially affect male and female athletes, and suggest an interaction between male sex, exercise, and atopic status in the course of EIB. Understanding these sex differences is important to provide personalized management plans to athletes with underlying asthma and/or atopy.
Highlights
Asthma is one of the most common chronic non-communicable diseases of the airways, affecting about 339 million people worldwide [1]
Asthma is generally characterized by airway smooth muscle constriction, excessive inflammation of the airway, and increased mucus production, it presents in a variety of phenotypes and endotypes, ranging from mild and intermittent to severe and uncontrolled [3]
We identified studies conducted in adult athletes and determined the prevalence of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), as well as the relationship between asthma, EIB, and atopy in male and female athletes
Summary
Asthma is one of the most common chronic non-communicable diseases of the airways, affecting about 339 million people worldwide [1]. The global prevalence of self-reported and physician-diagnosed asthma in adults is 4.3% (95% CI 4.2–4.4), with wide variation among countries [2]. Asthma is generally characterized by airway smooth muscle constriction (bronchospasm), excessive inflammation of the airway, and increased mucus production, it presents in a variety of phenotypes and endotypes, ranging from mild and intermittent to severe and uncontrolled [3]. Asthma is a heterogeneous disease, usually characterized by chronic inflammation. Atopy is frequently associated with asthma [10]. 80% of childhood asthma and over 50% of adult asthma has been reported to be
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