Assessment of the Increased Risk of Infection Following an Ultratrail

NCT06089174 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2023/CHU/23
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 471
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The increase in the practice of running has encouraged a proliferation of studies evaluating the impact of this sport on health. A number of these studies have looked at the influence of endurance events on the immune system. After prolonged exercise, a systemic inflammatory syndrome sets in, with repercussions for the functioning of the immune system. The number of lymphocytes in the blood is reduced, the function of natural killer (NK) cells is impaired and secretory immunity is impaired. During this period of immunosuppression, often referred to as the 'open window', the host may be more susceptible to micro-organisms that bypass the first line of defence. The invetigators' hypothesis is therefore that ultratrailers are overexposed to the risk of infection due to immunodepression resulting from practising this sport. In order to support this hypothesis, the investigators would like to look at infectious complications in general and ear-nose and throat episodes (rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, etc.) in particular, which are the most common infections encountered in primary care, along with urinary tract infections.

Conditions

Running; Immune Deficiency; Infections

Keywords

Immune deficiency; Ultra-running; Infection

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Increased risk of infection

  Comparing the incidence of all infectious symptoms in runners taking part in one of the Grand Raid races (exposed subjects) with the incidence of infectious symptoms in those accompanying them on the race. fever, congestion, stuffy nose, sneezing, shortness of breath, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, sore throat, general fatigue, burning and urinary symptoms, other infectious symptoms; associated with major infections (respiratory, skin, gastrointestinal, urinary, other)

  Day 21

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Kinetic of infections' appearance

  Day 21

• Risk factors: running distance

  Day 21

• Risk factors: training volume

  Day 21

• Risk factors: sex of the runner

  Day 21

• Risk factors: age category

  Day 21

Study Arms (2)

Exposed (Runners)

EXPERIMENTAL

Ultra-endurance runners taking part in an ultra-trail of 72 km, 109 km or 165 km

Other: Ultra-trail

Non-exposed (companions)

NO INTERVENTION

Runners' companions not running

Interventions

Ultra-trail OTHER

Questionnaires sent to runners at various pre-race and post-race times (Day3, Day6, Day10, Day14 and Day21)

Exposed (Runners)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• \> 18 years
• Participating in a Grand Raid de la Réunion 2023 race (Mascareignes, Trail de Bourbon, Diagonale des Fous)
• Have a companion living under the same roof during the week preceding the race and the 21 days following the race and who agrees to answer the questionnaires
• Do not object to the research

You may not qualify if:

• Do not understand French
• A protected adult (guardianship or curatorship) or under court protection

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de la Réunion: lead
• Jean Monnet University: collaborator
• Hôpital Privé de la Loire- Saint Etienne: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

CHU Réunion

Saint-Denis, 97400, Reunion

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes; Infections

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Immune System Diseases

Study Officials

• Nicolas BOUSCAREN, MD

  CHU de la Réunion

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: DIAGNOSTIC
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: This study is a descriptive cohort study comparing the occurrence of infection between exposed (runners of an ultra-trail) and unexposed subjects (their companions).

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 11, 2023
• First Posted: October 18, 2023
• Study Start: October 6, 2023
• Primary Completion: November 14, 2023
• Study Completion: November 14, 2023
• Last Updated: February 17, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

RE (1)