Diagnosis and treatment of asthma in athletes

Regular physical activity is recommended for all individuals, but asthmatic athletes face special challenges in managing their disorder while practicing sport. In athletes, a diagnosis of asthma is crucial because of potential implications not only on their general health, but also on their competing performance. However, it is often challenging due to heterogeneity in asthma expression [1], as well as variability in clinical, physiological and pathologic parameters [2]. In addition, multiple asthma phenotypes exhibiting differences in clinical response to treatment exist, which poses additional difficulties in the management of these patients [3]. Also, careful consideration of available therapies is required in order to avoid adverse effects on athletic performance and also to comply with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations. Therefore, athlete’s asthma often perplexes, frustrates and distresses both patients and their physicians [4]. In this context, and with the 2012 Olympic Games approaching, it seemed appropriate to review some answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding the diagnosis and treatment of this condition. Our aim is to demystify, in an educational perspective, this subject, and improve the physician’s confidence in dealing with these patients.