Does Swimming in Cold Water Protect Against Upper Respiratory Infections? A Preliminary Study of the Incidence of Upper Respiratory Infections in Cold-Water Swimmers

摘要

Ninety-six cold-water swimmers (age: range 23 to 79 yrs; median 57 yrs) swam consistently in the San Francisco Bay without wetsuits as part of a 3-month winter swim event (water temperature range: 9.6° C [49.3° F] – 12.6° C [54.7° F]). From post-event survey questions about upper respiratory infections (URIs), the winter URI incidence in cold-water swimmers (0.53 URI/person-per-winter; 95% CI: 0.40 - 0.70) was similar to a general U.S. population winter incidence (0.54 URI/person-per-winter) and a winter incidence from a prior study of runners (0.51 URI/person-per- winter). We found significant associations between numbers of URIs in cold-water swimmers and age (URIs reduced by 0.26 per 10 yr age increase; Coef = -0.026; P=0.007) and swim distance per day (URIs increased by 0.7 per mile/day swum; Coef = 0.701; P=0.016). Our results do not support an overall reduction in URIs as a specific health benefit related to recreational swimming in cold water. Older age and moderate exercise may contribute to a general decrease in URIs in cold-water swimmers, while aggressive swimming may increase the likelihood of infection.