Table 1

Baseline characteristics of athletes with and without a confirmed diagnosis of lower airway dysfunction (LAD)

Baseline characteristicsLAD diagnosis
(n=41)
No LAD diagnosis
(n=19)
P value
Age (median, range)17 (16–27)18 (16–28)0.80
Female gender (n, %)17 (41.5)7 (36.8)0.96
Training hours per week (mean, 95% CI)16.1 (14.9 to 17.4)15.6 (13.1 to 18.5)0.37
Type of sport (n, %)
 Winter sports26 (63.4)14 (73.7)0.44
 Summer sports*6 (14.6)3 (15.8)0.44
 Swimming8 (19.5)1 (5.3)0.44
 Football/handball1 (2.4)
 Other1 (2.4)
Ever had rhinitis (n, %)20 (48.8)7 (36.8)0.70
Inhalation allergy (n, %)22 (53.7)8 (42.1)0.58
Ever had eczema (n, %)15 (36.7)4 (9.8)0.44
Current asthma (n, %)
Physician-diagnosed asthma (n, %)
21 (51.2)
20 (48.8)
5 (12.2)
4 (9.8)
0.13
0.13
Current use of asthma medication, including ICS (n, %)20 (48.8)2 (10.5)0.67
Respiratory symptoms (n, %)
 Cough (wet or dry)31 (75.6)16 (84.2)0.52
 Slime/mucus38 (92.7)17 (89.5)0.67
 Heavy breathing/cannot get enough air32 (78.0)9 (22.0)0.13
 Wheezing18 (43.9)6 (31.6)0.41
 Chest pain21 (51.2)8 (42.1)0.59
 Inspiratory stridor/something blocks the throat32 (78.0)11 (57.9)0.13
  • *Running (LAD vs no LAD; 1 vs 2), rowing (1 vs 1), cycling (2 vs 0), sailing (2 vs 0).

  • ICS, inhalation of corticoid steroids.