Validation of AQUA© questionnaire in elite marathon runners

• Grant number: 14/15871-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2015
• End date: January 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Renata Nakata Teixeira
• Grantee: Mariana Vano Galvão de Almeida França
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Background: Despite the high prevalence of allergy observed in elite athletes, no specific diagnostic protocol has been adopted in the routine clinical evaluations of these athletes. The Allergy Questionnaire for Athletes (AQUA©) was validated with football players, however, its sensitivity and specificity in athletes from other sports remain unknown. Objectives: To validate the AQUA© questionnaire in elite marathon runners and to compare the levels of IgE with AQUA© total score of athletes with and without allergy. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study in which the sample will be composed of elite marathon runners who will undergo the following evaluations: i) allergy (AQUA©) and training questionnaires, and ii) blood sampling for the measurement of immunoglobulin levels (total and specific IgE). Results analysis methods: All questions with a potential value in predicting allergic diseases will be related to the gold standard for allergy diagnosis (specific IgE antibodies to at least one allergen). The positive likelihood ratio (RP+) will be calculated based on the formula: PR+ = sensitivity / (1 - specificity). The AQUA© questionnaire's total score will be calculated for all athletes by summing the scores of the individual questions and the total score will be used to calculate the sensitivity and specificity while the predictive value of the AQUA© questionnaire will be determined using hoc curve analysis.