Sporting enthusiasts are not the only people who will be following the performance of athletes at this year's Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Scientists from the EU-funded GA2LEN (Global Allergy and Asthma European Network) project will also be keeping a watchful eye over the Games' proceedings to assess the prevalence of asthma and other allergies among Europe's top athletes.

The study, which is the first of its kind in Europe, will follow up to 2,000 athletes before, during and after the Games. The athletes will undergo regular clinical examinations, which will measure each athlete's lung function, bronchial responsiveness and asthma symptoms. A skin prick test will be used to test for allergies, while changes in exhaled nitric oxide by athletes will be monitored in order to measure any airways inflammation.

A respiratory laboratory run by GA2LEN scientists will also be set up in the Olympic Village to provide care to athletes suffering from respiratory problems, in accordance with doping regulations. A clinical follow-up of these athletes is expected to allow scientists to assess the impact of the local environment on potential symptoms.

It is estimated that 20% of athletes who practice summer sports also suffer from asthma. The highest rates of the respiratory disease can be found among endurance athletes such as runners, swimmers and cyclists.

Experts believe that increased levels of ventilation reached and sustained during endurance sports cause these athletes to develop asthma. Environmental factors such as chlorine in the water for swimmers and polluted air for cyclists and runners are also blamed for the onset of asthma and other allergies.

In addition to collecting comparable scientific data of the prevalence of asthma and allergies among European athletes, the study will also enable scientist to validate tools for future studies. Ultimately, the study is expected to provide a better understanding of exercise-induced asthma and the effects of air quality and pollution on the athletes' performance.

The GA2LEN Network of Excellence brings together 31 partners from over 20 European countries. Funded under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), the project aims to integrate research on asthma and allergies in Europe, and ultimately improve the well-being of patients by decreasing the burden of allergic diseases in Europe.

GA2LEN - Global Allergy and Asthma European Network

Source: Community R&D Information Service (CORDIS)