Publication date: Jun 19, 2026
To identify factors associated with return-to-sport (RTS) outcomes following confirmed acute respiratory infections (ARinf) in athletes. This prospective cohort study included 114 confirmed ARinf cases among athletic individuals. Causative pathogens were identified using multiplex PCR testing, and illness severity was classified per International Olympic Committee consensus (mild, moderate and severe). RTS outcomes included time (days) to return-to-training (RTT), return-to-full-training (RTFT) and return-to-full-performance (RTFP). Cox regression models (HRs) assessed associations between RTS outcomes and demographics, sport participation, pathogen groups and illness severity. The median (IQR) days to RTT were 3. 5 (0-7), RTFT 8 (6-11) and RTFP 11 (7-14). Amateur athletes had prolonged RTS outcomes (HR range=0. 51-0. 59; p≤0. 03) compared with professional athletes. RTS outcomes differed between the most common pathogen groups: influenza and SARS-CoV-2 had longer RTS than rhinovirus (HR range=0. 11-0. 23; p≤0. 003). Severe illness was associated with prolonged RTS outcomes compared with mild and moderate illnesses (HR range=0. 17-0. 31; p
| Concepts | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Models | Athletes |
| Olympic | Infection |
| Pcr | Respiratory System |
| Rhinovirus | Sports medicine |
| Severe | Viruses |
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | respiratory infections |
| disease | MESH | RTS |
| disease | MESH | included |
| disease | MESH | HRs |
| disease | MESH | influenza |
| disease | MESH | Infection |