@article {Jackson00122-2017, author = {Anna R. Jackson and James H. Hull and James G. Hopker and John W. Dickinson}, title = {Impact of detecting and treating exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in elite footballers}, volume = {4}, number = {2}, elocation-id = {00122-2017}, year = {2018}, doi = {10.1183/23120541.00122-2017}, publisher = {European Respiratory Society}, abstract = {Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in elite football players and assess subsequent impact of therapy on airway health and exercise performance.97 male professional football players completed an airway health assessment with a eucapnic voluntary hyperpnoea (EVH) challenge to diagnose EIB. Players demonstrating a positive result (EVH+) were prescribed inhaler therapy depending on severity, including inhaled corticosteroids and inhaled short-acting β2-agonists, and underwent repeat assessment after 9 weeks of treatment. Eight players (EVH+ n=3, EVH- n=5) completed a peak oxygen uptake (V'O2peak) test at initial and follow-up assessment.Out of the 97 players, 27 (28\%) demonstrated a positive EVH result. Of these, 10 had no prior history (37\%) of EIB or asthma. EVH outcome was not predictable by respiratory symptoms. Seven (24\%) of the 27 EVH+ players attended follow-up and demonstrated improved post-challenge spirometry (forced expiratory volume in 1 s pre-test -22.9{\textpm}15.4\%, post-test -9.0{\textpm}1.6\%; p=0.018). At follow-up V'O2peak improved by 3.4{\textpm}2.9 mL{\textperiodcentered}kg-1{\textperiodcentered}min-1 in EVH+ players compared to 0.1{\textpm}2.3 mL{\textperiodcentered}kg-1{\textperiodcentered}min-1 in EVH- players. Magnitude of inference analysis indicated treatment was possibly beneficial (74\%) for exercise capacity.Elite football players have a high EIB prevalence. Treatment with inhaler therapy reduces EIB severity.Screening and treating EIB in elite football players improves airway health and may improve exercise performance http://ow.ly/ngE530iWGJh}, URL = {https://openres.ersjournals.com/content/4/2/00122-2017}, eprint = {https://openres.ersjournals.com/content/4/2/00122-2017.full.pdf}, journal = {ERJ Open Research} }