Effects of inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids on exercise induced arterial hypoxaemia in trained male athletes

Objectives: To determine the effect of prophylactic treatment with an inhaled bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory on arterial saturation (SaO₂) in trained non-asthmatic male athletes with exercise induced arterial hypoxaemia (EIAH). Methods: Nine male athletes (mean (SD) age 26.3 (6.7) years, height 182.6 (7.9) cm, weight 79.3 (10.5) kg, VO₂MAX 62.3 (6.3) ml/kg/min, SaO₂MIN 92.5 (1.1)%) with no history of asthma were tested in two experimental conditions. A combination of a therapeutic dose of salbutamol and fluticasone or an inert placebo was administered in a randomised crossover design for seven days before maximal cycling exercise. Oxygen consumption (VO₂), ventilation (VE), heart rate (HR), power output, and SaO₂ were monitored during the exercise tests. Results: There were no significant differences between the drug (D) and placebo (P) conditions for minimal SaO₂ (D = 93.6 (1.4), P = 93.0 (1.1)%; p = 0.93) VO₂MAX (D = 61.5 (7.2), P = 61.9 (6.3) ml/kg/min; p = 0.91), peak power (D = 444.4 (48.3), P = 449.4 (43.9) W; p = 0.90), peak VE (D = 147.8 (19.1), P = 149.2 (15.5) litres/min; p = 0.82), or peak heart rate (D = 182.3 (10.0), P = 180.8 (5.5) beats/min; p = 0.76). Conclusions: A therapeutic dose of salbutamol and fluticasone did not attenuate EIAH during maximal cycling in a group of trained male non-asthmatic athletes.