Lung function and its association with respiratory disease in infants and preschoolers

This thesis comprises distinct research chapters each based on the current need to achieve further understanding of the mixed effects of environmental exposures during pregnancy and genetic risk factors upon lung function. Specifically, this Thesis describe how environmental factors during pregnancy influence lung function in the offspring and promote the development of respiratory symptoms in early life, which may be associated with asthma onset early in childhood. In addition, it brings further understanding of the effects of hospitalisation for bronchiolitis according to the virus aetiology, as well as genetic factors, on the onset of asthma, adverse respiratory outcomes and lung health at preschool age.