Clinical Characteristics of Exacerbation-Prone Adult Asthmatics Identified by Cluster Analysis.

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 exacer

SUBMITTER: Kim MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5603476 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature