Clinical Characteristics of Exacerbation-Prone Adult Asthmatics Identified by Cluster Analysis.
10.4168/aair.2017.9.6.483
- Author:
Mi Ae KIM
1
;
Seung Woo SHIN
;
Jong Sook PARK
;
Soo Taek UH
;
Hun Soo CHANG
;
Da Jeong BAE
;
You Sook CHO
;
Hae Sim PARK
;
Ho Joo YOON
;
Byoung Whui CHOI
;
Yong Hoon KIM
;
Choon Sik PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Pulmonology, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Asthma;
cluster analysis;
exacerbation
- MeSH:
Adult*;
Asthma;
Clothing;
Cluster Analysis*;
Eosinophils;
Follow-Up Studies;
Humans;
Inflammation;
Lung;
Methods;
Phenotype
- From:Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research
2017;9(6):483-490
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Asthma is a heterogeneous disease characterized by various types of airway inflammation and obstruction. Therefore, it is classified into several subphenotypes, such as early-onset atopic, obese non-eosinophilic, benign, and eosinophilic asthma, using cluster analysis. A number of asthmatics frequently experience exacerbation over a long-term follow-up period, but the exacerbation-prone subphenotype has rarely been evaluated by cluster analysis. This prompted us to identify clusters reflecting asthma exacerbation. METHODS: A uniform cluster analysis method was applied to 259 adult asthmatics who were regularly followed-up for over 1 year using 12 variables, selected on the basis of their contribution to asthma phenotypes. After clustering, clinical profiles and exacerbation rates during follow-up were compared among the clusters. RESULTS: Four subphenotypes were identified: cluster 1 was comprised of patients with early-onset atopic asthma with preserved lung function, cluster 2 late-onset non-atopic asthma with impaired lung function, cluster 3 early-onset atopic asthma with severely impaired lung function, and cluster 4 late-onset non-atopic asthma with well-preserved lung function. The patients in clusters 2 and 3 were identified as exacerbation-prone asthmatics, showing a higher risk of asthma exacerbation. CONCLUSIONS: Two different phenotypes of exacerbation-prone asthma were identified among Korean asthmatics using cluster analysis; both were characterized by impaired lung function, but the age at asthma onset and atopic status were different between the two.
