Prevalence and impact of exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction in asthma: a study protocol for a cross-sectional and longitudinal study

INTRODUCTION: Exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO) and exercise-induced asthma can cause troublesome respiratory symptoms that can be difficult to distinguish between. Further, there is now a growing appreciation that the two conditions may coexist, complicating the interpretation of symptoms. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of EILO in patients with asthma. Secondary aims include evaluation of EILO treatment effects and investigation of comorbid conditions other than EILO in patients with asthma. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The study will be conducted at Haukeland University Hospital and Voss Hospital in Western Norway, and enrol 80–120 patients with asthma and a control group of 40 patients without asthma. Recruitment started in November 2020, and data sampling will continue until March 2024. Laryngeal function will be assessed at baseline and at a 1-year follow-up, using continuous laryngoscopy during high-intensity exercise (CLE). Immediately after the EILO diagnosis is verified, patients will be treated with standardised breathing advice guided by visual biofeedback from the laryngoscope video screen. The primary outcome will be the prevalence of EILO in patients with asthma and control participants. Secondary outcomes include changes in CLE scores, asthma-related quality of life, asthma control and number of the asthma exacerbations, as assessed between baseline and the 1-year follow-up. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been obtained from the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics, Western Norway, (ID number 97615). All participants will provide signed informed consent before enrolment. The results will be presented in international journals and conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04593394.