ObjectivesTo report COVID-19 illness pattern, symptom duration and time loss in UK elite athletes.MethodsObservational, clinical and database review of athletes with symptomatic COVID-19 illness managed within the UK Sports Institutes. Athletes were classified as confirmed (positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR or antibody tests) or probable (consistent clinical features) COVID-19. Clinical presentation was characterised by the predominant symptom focus (eg, upper or lower respiratory illness). Time loss was defined as days unavailable for full sport participation and comparison was made with a 2016–2019 respiratory illness dataset from the same surveillance system.ResultsBetween 24 February 2020 and 18 January 2021, 147 athletes (25 Paralympic (17%)) with mean (SD) age 24.7 (5.2) years, 37% female, were diagnosed with COVID-19 (76 probable, 71 confirmed). Fatigue was the most prevalent symptom (57%), followed by dry cough (50%) and headache (46%). The median (IQR) symptom duration was 10 (6–17) days but 14% reported symptoms >28 days. Median time loss was 18 (12–30) days, with 27% not fully available >28 days from initial date of infection. This was greater than our historical non-COVID respiratory illness comparator; 6 days, 0–7 days (p<0.001) and 4% unavailable at 28 days. A lower respiratory phenotype (ie, including dyspnoea±chest pain±cough±fever) was present in 18% and associated with a higher relative risk of prolonged symptoms risk ratio 3.0 (95% CI: 1.4 to 6.5) and time loss 2.1 (95% CI: 1.2 to 3.5).ConclusionsIn this cohort, COVID-19 largely resulted in a mild, self-limiting illness. The presence of lower respiratory tract features was associated with prolonged illness and a delayed return to sport.

Respiratory tract illness is a leading cause of training and in-competition time-loss in elite athletes. Asthma is known to be prevalent in athletes but the co-existence of other respiratory problems, in those deemed to be susceptible to respiratory tract illness, is unknown. The aim of this study was to apply a comprehensive prospective approach to identify respiratory problems and explore relationships in athletes with heightened respiratory illness susceptibility.UK World Class Performance Programme athletes prospectively completed a systematic review of respiratory health with validated questionnaires and respiratory-focussed investigations, including studies of nasal flow, exhaled nitric oxide, spirometry, bronchoprovocation testing and allergy testing.Systematic respiratory health assessment was completed by 122 athletes (55 females, age 24±4 year). At least one respiratory health issue, requiring intervention, was identified in 97 (80%) athletes and ≥2 abnormalities were found in 73 (60%). Sinonasal problems were the most commonly identified problem (49%) and 22% of athletes had a positive indirect bronchoprovocation test. Analysis revealed two respiratory health clusters; i) asthma, sinus problems and allergy and ii) laryngeal and breathing pattern dysfunction. Respiratory illness susceptible athletes had 3.6±2.5 episodes in the year prior to assessment and were more likely (as odds ratio [95% confidence intervals] to have allergy (2.6 [1.0–6.5]), sinonasal problems (2.6 [1.1–6.0]), and symptoms of laryngeal (5.4 [1.8–16.8] and breathing pattern dysfunction (3.9 [1.1–14.0] than non-susceptible athletes (all p<0.05).A systematic approach to respiratory assessment identifies a high prevalence and co-existence of multiple respiratory problems in illness-susceptible athletes.

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ObjectivesTo identify the priority injury and illness types across UK summer Olympic World Class Programme sports to inform development, implementation and evaluation of associated injury risk mitigation and management initiatives.MethodsFour years (2016–2019) of electronic medical records of 1247 athletes from 22 sports were analysed and reported using methods based on the 2020 International Olympic Committee consensus statement for epidemiological recording and reporting.Results3562 injuries and 1218 illness were recorded, accounting for 146 156 and 27 442 time-loss days. Overall, 814 (65%) athletes reported at least one injury, while 517 (41%) reported at least one illness. There were 1.3 injuries per athlete year resulting in a mean burden of 54.1 days per athlete year. The lumbar/pelvis, knee, ankle and shoulder body regions had the highest incidence and burden. Athletes reported 0.5 illnesses per athlete year, resulting in a mean burden of 10.4 days per athlete year, with most composed of respiratory illness and gastroenteritis. Injuries within sport groups were representative of the injury risk profile for those sports (eg, knee, hand and head injuries had the highest incidence in combat sports), but respiratory illnesses were consistently the greatest problem for each sport group.ConclusionsTo optimise availability for training and performance, systematic risk mitigation and management initiatives should target priority injury problems occurring in the lumbar/pelvis, knee, ankle and shoulder, and respiratory illness. Follow-up analysis should include identification of sport-specific priority health problems and associated risk factors.

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Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

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