Factors associated with return-to-sport outcomes following pathogen-confirmed acute respiratory infections in athletes: AWARE X study

The authors aimed to identify factors influencing return-to-sport (RTS) outcomes in athletes following confirmed acute respiratory infections (ARinf). Their study found that RTS outcomes were significantly affected by the athlete's level of participation, the severity of the illness, and the specific pathogen involved, with amateur athletes and those with severe infections experiencing longer recovery times. The findings suggest that assessing illness severity and identifying the causative pathogen can enhance clinical decision-making regarding RTS.