Exercise-induced rhinitis in competitive swimmers

Abstract

Background: Elite swimmers are at increased risk of asthma, which has been related to chronic effects of pool chlorine environment. However acute effects of swimming on rhinitis remain unknown.

Objective: We aimed to assess the nasal response to exercise in competitive swimmers compared with competitive runners.

Methods: Measurements of nasal symptoms, peak nasal inspiratory flow, lung function, dyspnea, and of airway inflammation were obtained before and after a training session of 19 international-level swimmers and 13 professional runners. Exercise-induced rhinitis was defined as a fall in peak nasal inspiratory flow above 20% from baseline and atopy by positivity to skin-prick testing. Changes within groups were compared using paired t test and differences compared by analysis of covariance.

Results: Prevalence of exercise-induced rhinitis was similar between swimmers and runners, respectively 21% and 23%. Contrary to runners, swimmers experienced a decrease in nasal inspiratory flow levels and increase in sneezing, nasal congestion, itching, and postnasal drip after exercise. However, difference in changes was only significant for postnasal drip (p = 0.050). All subjects experiencing exercise-induced rhinitis were nonatopic. An overall improvement in nasal flows, sneezing, and itching after exercise was observed in atopic athletes, although no significant differences in changes compared with nonatopic athletes existed.

Conclusion: Swimmers, contrary to runners, experience a worsening of nasal function after training. Although these differences were only significant for postnasal drip, our results provide support to the existence of a "swimming-induced rhinitis" independent of the atopic status of the athlete.