Congratulations to Prof. Obianuju Ozoh on Publication in Thorax

The Pan African Thoracic Society (PATS) congratulates Prof. Obianuju B. Ozoh on the publication of her research in Thorax, titled “Prevalence of asthma among African children and adolescents: findings from the Chronic Respiratory Disease Observatory for Africa (CHEST-Africa).”

This important multicountry study provides contemporary data on asthma among children and adolescents across four African countries, using both symptom-based assessment and objective diagnostic testing. The study included 4,477 participants from Ghana, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria.

The findings highlight a substantial burden of asthma, with significant gaps in diagnosis and treatment. Objective testing confirmed asthma in 41.6% of children and 61.0% of adolescents with self-reported asthma, while fewer than 5% were using inhaled corticosteroids.

The study underscores the importance of improving access to objective diagnostic testing, essential inhaled medicines and school- and community-based asthma programmes across Africa.

PATS congratulates Prof. Uju Ozoh and all the investigators and collaborators on this valuable contribution to respiratory health research in Africa.

Read the full publication here (PDF)

Ozoh OB, Kwarteng Owusu SK, Nantanda R, et al. Prevalence of asthma among African children and adolescents: findings from the Chronic Respiratory Disease Observatory for Africa (CHEST-Africa). Thorax 2026. doi:10.1136/thorax-2026-225381. Published by BMJ Group and reproduced under the CC BY 4.0 open access licence.