Although questionnaires provide reasonable estimates of EIA prevalence among elite cold-weather athletes, the use of self-reported symptoms for EIA diagnosis in this population will likely yield high frequencies of both false positive and false negative results. Diagnosis should include spirometry using an exercise/environment specific challenge in combination with the athlete's history of asthma symptoms.

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Self-reported symptoms by elite athletes are not reliable in identifying EIA. Reference range criterion for FEV1 decrement in the elite athlete postexercise contrasts current recommended guidelines. Moreover, a large number of false negatives may occur in this population if EIA screening is performed with inadequate exercise and environmental stress.