Key result
Current evidence does not support the common belief that elite athletes have an increased susceptibility to respiratory viral infections, which are typically mild and self-limiting.
Why the study?
Intense exercise is proposed to increase susceptibility to respiratory infections, but virological data are sparse and fundamental questions about infection rates and clinical implications remain.
This review emphasizes the need for high-quality virological studies to understand respiratory viral infections in elite athletes, noting that while symptoms are generally mild, there is a potential risk of myocarditis.
Challenges prevailing assumptions on athlete infection risk; leaves open need for prospective studies before changing practice.
Upper respiratory tract infections ("common cold") are the most common acute illnesses in elite athletes. Numerous studies on exercise immunology have proposed that intense exercise may increase susceptibility to respiratory infections. Virological data to support that view are sparse, and several fundamental questions remain. Immunity to respiratory viral infections is highly complex, and there is a lack of evidence that minor short- or long-term alterations in immunity in elite athletes have clinical implications. The degree to which athletes are infected by respiratory viruses is unclear. During major sport events, athletes are at an increased risk of symptomatic infections caused by the same viruses as those in the general population. The symptoms are usually mild and self-limiting. It is anecdotally known that athletes commonly exercise and compete while having a respiratory viral infection; there are no virological studies to suggest that such activity would affect either the illness or the performance. The risk of myocarditis exists. Which simple mitigation procedures are crucial for effective control of seasonal respiratory viral infections is not known.
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Ruuskanen et al. (2022) conducted a review in Respiratory viral infections. Elite sports participation vs. General population was evaluated. Current evidence does not support the common belief that elite athletes have an increased susceptibility to respiratory viral infections, which are typically mild and self-limiting.
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