Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness, cilt.66, sa.4, ss.532-539, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
BACKGROUND: Exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) is widely recognized as a common cause of exertional dyspnea. The accurate identification and differentiation of EIB from other causes of exercise intolerance remain challenging in clinical practice. We aimed to analyze CPET-derived ventilatory and metabolic parameters in adolescant athletes with exercise-related dyspnea to assess whether these parameters can aid in differentiating EIB from other non-EIB causes of dyspnea. METHODS: This retrospective, observational, cohort study included 47 athletes (8-18 years old) presenting with exercise-related dyspnea. Participants were divided into EIB-positive [EIB (+)] and EIB-negative [EIB (-)] groups based on a ≥10% decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) after CPET. A control group (N.=36) was also included. Spirometry measurements were obtained before and after CPET, and cardiopulmonary parameters such as peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2), oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES), and ventilatory equivalents were analyzed. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between EIB (+) and EIB (-) groups in terms of baseline spirometry values. Post-exercise spirometry revealed significant reductions in FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75, and PEF values in the EIB (+) group (P<0.05). Peak VO2 and peak O2/HR were lower in both dyspneic groups compared to controls, but no significant difference was observed between EIB (+) and EIB (-) groups (P>0.05). OUES was moderately correlated with AT VCO2 (r=0.519) and strongly correlated with peak VO2 (r=0.804) and peak O2/HR (r=0.861). CONCLUSIONS: While EIB affects ventilatory function, athletes with exercise-related dyspnea exhibited similar CPET changes regardless of EIB diagnosis. This suggests that dyspnea in young athletes may not always be due to EIB but could result from other ventilatory adaptations. OUES and peak VO2 may serve as useful indicators in evaluating dyspnea-related exercise limitations.