ASPE‑P project: prospective study on asthma, medication and performance

During the period 2024-2027 we will invite up to 200 athletes completing physiological tests at the Swedish Winter Sports Research Centre to participate in this study.

Participants are invited to complete the following additional measurements in conjunction with their normal testing protocol:

• Baseline questionnaires on allergic status, respiratory function and medication use
• Baseline and post-maximal exercise lung function (spirometry)

The project will then aim to explore the following research questions:

• Is asthma independently associated with physical performance indicators? 
• Is use of asthma medication independently associated with physical performance indicators in the lab? 
• Is lung function associated with physical performance? 
• Is lung function/asthma associated with ventilatory capacity and breathing patterns during maximal exercise testing? 
• How is development of performance capacity affected by an asthma diagnosis? 

The project has the potential to provide, for the first time, insight into potential relationships between asthma, lung function, and long-term usage of different categories of asthma medication and performance capacity among elite winter endurance athletes. These findings have the potential to inform future research, clinical screening and monitoring routines for elite athletes, and anti-doping policy in elite sport.