Aegis 4: screening study

By investigating lung function after an exercise test in -15°C among 16–19-year-old students at Swedish ski high schools, this study will, to our knowledge, be the most comprehensive screening study of respiratory responses to physical activity in subzero temperatures.

Asthma and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) are common problems in winter athletes and tend to first arise during adolescence. Swedish studies estimate the prevalence in Sweden to be around 30% for winter endurance athletes, compared to around 10% in the general population.

Heavy breathing during training and competition in cold and dry conditions places significant stress on the airways, resulting in dehydration and damage to airway tissues. At present, however, reliable and specific diagnostic tests for EIB in athletes in winter sports are lacking.

In this study, we aim to report the reliability of clinical tests to detect respiratory problems during exercise in cold environments, as well as provide additional insight into the mechanisms by which EIB in winter athletes develops. Pilot tests indicate that EIB occurring during physical activity in the cold may be difficult to diagnose with standard clinical tests, limiting our understanding of the true occurrence of airway obstruction in cold environments.