TITLE:
Airway obstruction in competitive swimmers
AUTHORS:
Marja Päivinen, Tuula Putus, Pentti Kalliokoski, Heikki Tikkanen
KEYWORDS:
Pulmonary Function Tests; Obstruction; Asthma; Allergy; Symptoms; Swimming
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.5 No.3,
March
28,
2013
ABSTRACT: Background: Swimming has been
shown to cause beneficial effects on lung function. However, increased
adverse effects have been hypothesized due to the air quality of indoor swimming pools. Objectives: To
compare competitive swimmers present lung function to swimmers twenty to thirty years ago and examine the associations between lung
function and medical history and reported respiratory symptoms in present swimmers. Methods: One
hundred swimmers, 47 females and 53 males were studied with flow-volume
spirometry. These findings were compared with ones obtained 20 - 30 years ago
among 98 swimmers, 40 females and 58 males. Forced expiratory volume in one
second (FEV1), forced expiratory volume (FVC) and their ratio (FEV%)
were analysed for airways obstruction. Associations between lung function and
asthma, allergy, and respiratory symptoms were examined using questionnaire. In
addition airways inflammation was measured with exhaled nitric oxide measurement (FENO) in present swimmers. Airborne trichloramine was measured
in air of indoor swimming pools. Results: Airway obstruction was found in 15%, 15 out
of 100 studied swimmers, which all
reported physician diagnosed asthma and/or family history of asthma.
Most, 12 out of 15 of swimmers with obstruction finding, were males. Twenty to
thirty years ago obstruction was found in 17 of the 98 swimmers. Airborne
concentrations of trichloramine in the present swimming pools, were low, less
than 0.1 mg/m3. Conclusion: Airway obstruction
was associated with asthma and family history of asthma. There was no
increase in obstruction findings among competitive swimmers within 2 - 3
decades. Measured concentrations of trichloramine raised no concern on swimmers health.