Open AccessIncreased risk of respiratory viral infections in elite athletes: A controlled study
Author(s) -
Maarit Valtonen,
Wilma Grönroos,
Raakel Luoto,
Matti Waris,
Matti Uhari,
Olli J. Hein,
Olli Ruuskanen
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0250907
Subject(s) - medicine , athletes , asymptomatic , etiology , respiratory system , confidence interval , elite athletes , respiratory infection , prospective cohort study , respiratory tract infections , physical therapy , pediatrics
Background Respiratory symptoms are commonly recognised in elite athletes. The occurrence, etiology and clinical presentation of the illnesses in athletes is unclear. Methods We performed a prospective controlled study of respiratory viral infections in Team Finland during Nordic World Ski Championships 2019. There were 26 athletes and 36 staff members. Nasal swabs were taken at the onset of a symptom and on days 1, 7, and 13 during the follow-up of 14 days. Respiratory viruses were searched for by 3 different molecular multiplex tests. Fifty-two matched control subjects were studied in Finland during the same period. Results Ten out of 26 (38%) athletes, 6 out of 36 (17%) staff, and 3 out of 52 (6%) control subjects experienced symptoms of respiratory infection (p = 0.0013). The relative risks for acquiring symptomatic infection were 6.7 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.1–21.0) of athletes and 2.9 (95% CI, 0.84–10.0) of the staff as compared to the controls. Asymptomatic infections were identified in 8%, 22%, and 19%, respectively (p = 0.30). The etiology of respiratory infections was detected in 84% of the cases. Conclusion The athletes had a 7-fold increase in the risk of illness compared to normally exercising control subjects.