Mikaela Qvarfordt: Environmental exposures, body composition and pulmonary function: How can we improve diagnostics?

Abstract

Pulmonary diseases are influenced by numerous factors such as lifestyle, environment, genetics, and adipose tissue. A common factor for these diseases is that early and accurate diagnosis is beneficial for effective treatment. The improvement and development of diagnostic tools, including nanotechnology, offers the potential for more reliable diagnosis.

The main aim of this thesis was to improve our understanding of respiratory assessment through a comprehensive approach. This approach included studying the effectiveness of training and feedback in conducting spirometry tests to accepted diagnostic standard (paper I). Evaluating the association of body impedance analysis (BIA) and waist circumference in assessing the decline in lung function induced by excessive adipose tissue (paper II) and investigating the effects of weight change on lung function (paper III). In addition, the thesis investigated the potential of inhaled nano particles in individuals with impaired lung epithelium as a possible new diagnostic method (paper IV). Overall, these studies aimed to improve lung function diagnostics to make them more reliable, accessible and to advance the development of cutting-edge technological methods.

Our results show that the use of structured on-line feedback improve the quality of spirometry and that there is a potential gender differences in the effects of excess adipose tissue on lung function. Data also demonstrated a difference in clearance of inhaled nanoparticles between healthy and patients with impaired alveolar integrity, opening the possibility for new diagnostic approaches.