Upper respiratory tract symptom risk in elite field hockey players during a dry run for the Tokyo Olympics

ABSTRACTThe primary aim of this study was to examine if biomarker and/or self-reported data could predict upper respiratory tract symptom (URTS) risk in elite field hockey players. The secondary aim was to investigate the effect of the additional stressor 'repeated heat exposure' on measures of thermoregulation and immunity. A prospective cohort repeated measures study design was used to collect URTS, household illness, self-reported wellness, biomarker and thermoregulatory data from elite male field hockey players (n = 19), during an 8-week training and competition period that simulated the preparatory and competition phases of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Heat response testing (HRT) was performed at the beginning of the study period, following heat acclimation (HA) and following an intensified competition period (ICP) played in hot and humid conditions (27-37°C and 53-80% relative humidity). Univariate frailty analysis demonstrated that illness in players' households (Hazard ratio (HR: 4.90; p < 0.001)) and self-reported stress (HR: 0.63; p = 0.043) predicted players' risk for URTS. Additionally, low baseline resting salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) concentration predicted players' "potential" URTS risk (p = 0.021). The additional stressor "repeated heat exposure" was found to facilitate partial thermoregulatory adaptation without attenuating resting immune functions. In conclusion, lifestyle and behavioural factors (i.e. household illness and stress) influenced players risk for URTS more so than sport-related stressors. Furthermore, repeated heat exposure did not appear to compromise players resting immunity. To assess athletes' risk for URTS, baseline screening of SIgA concentration and regular monitoring of self-reported lifestyle and behavioural data are recommended.Highlights Self-reported illness in players' households and higher self-reported stress significantly predicted increased upper respiratory tract symptom risk.Low baseline salivary secretory immunoglobulin A concentration predicted players "potential" URTS risk.Repeated heat exposures facilitated partial thermoregulatory adaptation without altering resting immunity.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2022

Erschienen:

2022

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:22

Enthalten in:

European journal of sport science - 22(2022), 12 vom: 07. Dez., Seite 1827-1835

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Keaney, Lauren C [VerfasserIn]
Kilding, Andrew E [VerfasserIn]
Merien, Fabrice [VerfasserIn]
Shaw, David M [VerfasserIn]
Dulson, Deborah K [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Athlete
Biomarkers
Heat
Illness
Immunity
Immunoglobulin A, Secretory
Journal Article
Monitoring

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 30.11.2022

Date Revised 30.11.2022

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1080/17461391.2021.2009041

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM334106559