Self-reported asthma and respiratory symptoms among Italian amateur athletes

The prevalence and the factors influencing respiratory symptoms and asthma in recreational athletes are still poorly defined. The aim of the study is to estimate the prevalence of self-reported asthma and respiratory symptoms in a sample of Italian amateur athletes compared with the general population. The results of this study indicate that asthma is less common in amateur athletes than in the general population and that the risk of asthma and respiratory symptoms is associated more with outdoor than with indoor sports, but not with any particular type of exercise.