Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps as a Global Airway Disease: Lower Airway Involvement, Type 2 Inflammation, and Treatment Effects

PhD defence by Jens Even Tidemandsen

Assessment Committee

Associate professor Asger Sverrild, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen (Chairperson)
Dr James Hull, University College London/ Royal Brompton Hospital
Professor Sanna Toppila Salmi, University of eastern Finland / The wellbeing services, county of north Savo, Kuopio

Supervisors

Clinical Professor Vibeke Backer
Teaching Assistant Howraman Meteran
Clinical Associate Professor Kasper Aanæs
Associate Professor Morten Hostrup

Department

Department of Clinical Medicine

Graduate Programme

Airways, Anesthesiology and Skin

Place

Building: Rigshospitalet opgang 2, Room: auditoriet 1, Blegdamsvej 9, opgang 2, 2100 København Ø

Email address to gain access to the thesis: jenstid90@hotmail.com.
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Short description of the thesis

This PhD explores CRSwNP through the concept of the Global Airway, investigating whether disease extends beyond the upper airway—even in patients without diagnosed asthma. Across four studies, the work examines lower-airway physiology, airway hyperresponsiveness, type 2 inflammation, and the effects of mepolizumab with or without sinus surgery, as well as changes in physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness.

The findings point toward a more nuanced picture: the upper and lower airways are interconnected, but they do not necessarily behave as one uniform disease.