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Methods: The authors conducted an online secure survey in winter 2008 using PsychData, using
previously validated 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