Dr. Doxa Kotzia is a Paediatrician - Paediatric Pulmonologist (fully qualified in England), Director of the Paediatric Pulmonology Department and Sleep Laboratory of Iaso Children’s Hospital, as well as a collaborator of the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Centre, Rea Maternity Hospital and the 1st Paediatric University Clinic of the Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital. Dr Kotzia graduated from the Athens Medical School and completed her residency in Pediatrics at the 3rd University Pediatric Clinic of Attikon Hospital. She trained in Paediatric Pulmonology in England, working in paid fellowship positions at the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospital (the world reference centre for paediatric pulmonology) and Great Ormond Street Hospital (the largest quaternary reference hospital in the UK and Europe) in London. Dr Kotzia was a full-time Director of Paediatric Respiratory Medicine, specialising in long-term non-invasive ventilation and sleep medicine at Cambridge University Hospital in England. Dr Kotzia was an Honorary Director of Paediatric Paediatric Respiratory Medicine at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. Dr Kotzia has worked in all areas related to the care of paediatric pulmonary patients with additional specialization in cystic fibrosis, long-term non-invasive ventilation, sleep medicine, lung transplantation, congenital airway abnormalities, neuromuscular/ neurological patients, cardiac patients and case management in the NICU, ICU and cardiac surgery unit. Dr Kotzia holds a PhD from the Athens Medical School and two postgraduate degrees (MSc from the Athens Medical School and MPH from the National School of Public Health, specialising in infectious diseases). Dr Kotzia served as an Academic Fellow in Paediatric Pulmonology at the 1st University Paediatric Clinic at the Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital. Dr Kotzia is a post - PhD candidate at the Aegean University of Greece. Dr. Kotzia has a rich authorial and research work, with significant distinctions in her career and a strong presence in international and national conferences. Dr Kotzia is a reviewer in international scientific journals and has a special interest in leadership, management and quality improvement projects. Dr Kotzia is systematically involved in the training of younger colleagues. Dr Kotzia holds the honorary title of Fellow in the Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health (RCPCH), UK. She is a member of the board of the Hellenic Paediatric PulmonologySociety and a member of the Hellenic College of Paediatricians, as well as a member of international medical societies, including the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and the BritishPaediatric Respiratory Society (BPRS).

Pulmonary Function in School-Aged Preterm Children with a History of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD): A Single-Center Greek Cohort Study and Comparative Literature Review   Introduction: Preterm children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) frequently demonstrate persistent abnormalities in pulmonary function testing. Long-term follow-up clinical data from Greece remain limited.   Objective: To evaluate pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and respiratory quality of life in school-aged children (>6 years) with BPD followed at a major Pediatric Pulmonology Center, and to compare our findings with those reported in the international literature.   Methods: Thirty children (aged 6–12 years; mean age 8.6 ± 1.9 years) born at <32 weeks of gestation with a history of BPD were evaluated. Assessments included spirometry (FEV1,FEV1/FVC ratio, bronchodilator responsiveness), the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), respiratory quality-of-life assessment using the PedsQL score, and neonatal risk factors (duration of mechanical ventilation, systemic corticosteroid use, and home oxygen therapy). Multivariable analysis was performed to identify predictive factors associated with impaired pulmonary function.   Results: Mean predicted FEV1 was 84 ± 14%. A total of 38% of children had FEV1 <80% predicted, while 29% had FEV1/FVC values below the lower limit of normal (LLN). Bronchodilator responsiveness was observed in 34% of participants. The mean 6MWT distance was 520 ± 65 m, with 34% performing below age-related reference values. Hospitalization during the previous year occurred in 22% of patients, and 46% required inhaled corticosteroid therapy. Independent predictors of reduced FEV1 included severe BPD (β = −0.45, p<0.001), prolonged mechanical ventilation >14 days (β = −0.31, p=0.002), postnatal corticosteroid administration (β = −0.28, p=0.01), and exposure to passive smoking (β = −0.25, p=0.02). Comparative literature demonstrates similar pulmonary function deficits (~10–20% lower predicted FEV1), increased airway obstruction, and comparable exercise limitations, supporting the validity of our findings.   Conclusions: A substantial proportion of Greek preterm children with BPD exhibit persistent airway obstruction, exercise limitation, and impaired respiratory quality of life during schoolage. Early identification of neonatal risk factors may facilitate targeted interventions and close follow-up, highlighting the need for structured long-term care.   Wheezing in Preschool Children Following Viral RSV or Rhinovirus Infections: Results of a 4-Year Retrospective Experience at the largest Pediatric Hospital in Greece andComparative Literature Review   Introduction: Recurrent wheezing following viral lower respiratory tract infections is common in early childhood and may predispose children to the development of asthma later in life. Data from the Greek pediatric population remain limited.   Objective: To describe the clinical course of post-viral wheezing in preschool children followed at the Pediatric Pulmonology Department of our hospital and to compare our findings with those reported in the international literature.   Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 110 children (aged 6 months–5 years; mean age 2.1 ± 1.2 years) who experienced ≥2 wheezing episodes within 12 monthsfollowing confirmed Respiratory Syncytial Virus infection (RSV, n=62) or rhinovirus infection (Rhino, n=48). Data collected included the number of exacerbations, hospitalizations, FEV1 values (for children aged ≥3 years), response to bronchodilator therapy, and the requirement for inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). The literature review assessed prevalence, risk factors, and progression rates to asthma in cohort studies.   Results: The mean number of wheezing episodes per child was 3.1 ± 1.2 in the RSV group and 4.3 ± 1.5 in the Rhinovirus group (p=0.01). Hospitalization rates were 18% for RSV versus 25% for Rhinovirus infections (p=0.25). Predicted FEV1 <85% was observed in 21% of children aged ≥3 years. ICS therapy was required in 42% of the total cohort. Overall, a favorable clinical response was observed in 78% of patients. The literature review reported progression to recurrent wheezing or asthma in 25–40% of cases, with rhinovirus infection associated with a higher risk, consistent with our findings. Male sex, history of atopy, and younger age at first infection were identified as additional risk factors.   Conclusions: Post-infectious (viral-associated) wheezing episodes following RSV or Rhinovirus infection are common and clinically significant. Our single-center experience confirms international findings identifying Rhinovirus infection as the strongest predictive factor for recurrent wheezing episodes and possible asthma development. Early identification of high-risk children may enable targeted and timely interventions.