Asthma Diagnosis, Knowledge and Awareness among

Recreational Endurance Athletes

Derek G. Shendell, D.Env, MPH?
Melannie S. Alexander, MPH
Lauren Lorentzson, MPH
Sarah W. Kelly, MPH
Ralph (Chip) D. Zimmerman, MS, RRT
Lynda T. Goodfellow, EdD, RRT, AE-C
Institute of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia (DGS, MSA, LL)
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, School of Public Health, Department of
Environmental and Occupational
Health, Piscataway, New Jersey (DGS, SWK)
Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, University of Medicine and Dentistry of
New Jersey, Robert Wood
Johnson Medical School and Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey (DGS)
Division of Respiratory Therapy, School of Health Professions, College of Health and Human
Sciences, Georgia State University,
Atlanta, Georgia (RDZ, LTG)
Derek G. Shendell, DEnv, MPH, Assistant Professor and Director of the New Jersey Safe Schools
Program, 683 Hoes Lane West,
Third Floor SPH Building, PO Box 9, Piscataway, NJ 08854; e-mail: shendedgatumdnj.edu.
Objective: Limited research exists on recreational-level competitors regarding asthma and/or
comorbidity. The present purpose was to
conduct a study in conjunction air purifier stop dust with the 2008 ING Georgia Marathon and HalfMarathon in Atlanta.
Methods: The authors conducted an online secure survey in winter 2008 using PsychData, using
previously validated
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/allergies/basics/definition/con-20034030 questions
from other
research and national surveys. Data were summarized from participating recreational athletes on

sociodemographic attributes;
training locations; participant and family member diagnosis of asthma; and participant knowledge
and awareness of signs, symptoms,
and management.
Results: There were 1151 participants (99.4%) who provided informed consent and then answered
the survey (more than 10% of initially
registered athletes); 7 athletes (0.6%) did not consent. There were complete data for 1138
participants (98%). Most participants
were women (56.2%), white (88.2%), and of a relatively higher socioeconomic status than the
general population. Most participants
(96.2%) were running either a full marathon (29.8%) or half-marathon (66.4%), as opposed to
walking or participating as a
wheelchair athlete. About 1 in 8 participants (12.1%) reported physician-diagnosed asthma.
Clinically, whereas 84.6% correctly
knew that an asthma action plan can prevent hospitalizations due to asthma, only 18% reported that
they had such a plan. Moreover,
only 24.8% had ever been asked to demonstrate medication use (controller and/or rescue inhaler),
and only 2 people performed
daily peak flow measurements.

Conclusions: In a study of physically active white adults of higher socioeconomic status, 12.1%
reported asthma. As such, this study identified
the need for potential improvements in asthma management via written asthma action plans and
demonstration of peak flow monitoring
and medication use.

 2011 SAGE Publications

http://jaa.sagepub.com/cgi/content/short/2/4/163?rss=1&ssource=mfc