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In a series of groundbreaking studies, Emma Caffrey Osvald, a PhD student at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, delves into new factors influencing the development and outcomes of asthma and cystic fibrosis in children and young adults. By leveraging clinical cohorts and national health registers, Osvald’s findings provide valuable insights for crafting clinical guidelines and policies aimed at preventing and managing respiratory diseases in the younger population.
The key findings of Osvald’s thesis shed light on various aspects of these respiratory conditions. The research indicates a correlation between maternal asthma and an increased likelihood of the child developing asthma. Additionally, higher lung function in pregnancy is associated with a reduced likelihood of childhood asthma, although it does not impact childhood growth. Another crucial revelation is the link between parental social standing, including education and income, and the onset of childhood asthma. This association, as observed by comparing first cousins, suggests a direct connection between parental education and the onset of asthma.
Osvald’s work extends to the consequences of respiratory diseases in childhood and young adulthood. The research demonstrates that having asthma during this period is connected to an increased risk of mortality between 1 to 25 years of age. Although the likelihood of death is higher with a concurrent life-limiting disease, it is not altered by the parents’ social standing at the child’s birth. In the context of cystic fibrosis, low parental social standing is associated with severe disease and lung function decline, highlighting the impact of social factors on the outcomes of respiratory conditions.
When asked about her motivation for this research, Osvald, a pediatric pulmonologist, expressed her interest in epidemiology and the desire to understand the factors influencing the onset and outcomes of respiratory diseases in children. The integration of clinical data with register information has opened new avenues for exploring risk factors for acute respiratory diseases and understanding the broader outcomes for individuals with asthma and cystic fibrosis.
Looking ahead, Osvald emphasizes the importance of further research in understanding the determinants and outcomes of respiratory diseases in childhood. The future lies in combining clinical and register data to explore risk factors for acute respiratory diseases and delve into outcomes for those with asthma and cystic fibrosis, including comorbidities and educational attainment.
