Distinct asthma phenotypes with low maximal attainment of lung function on cluster analysis

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Clinical Research
• Data Science

Background:

• Asthma is a complex respiratory condition with varied clinical presentations and control levels.
• Understanding asthma heterogeneity is crucial for effective patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize distinct clinical asthma phenotypes in an Indian cohort.
• To apply cluster analysis for identifying these phenotypes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of 100 asthma patients with at least 6-month follow-up.
• Assessment of demographics, disease onset, spirometry, and allergen sensitization.
• Ward's minimum-variance hierarchical clustering and statistical comparisons (Kruskal-Wallis, chi-square tests).

Main Results:

• Four distinct asthma clusters were identified.
• Cluster 1: Childhood onset, normal weight, normal lung function.
• Clusters 2 & 3: Adolescent/late-onset, obese, majority males, poor lung function.
• Cluster 4: Adult-onset, obese, predominantly female, normal lung function.

Conclusions:

• Cluster analysis revealed four unique asthma phenotypes in the Indian cohort.
• Two identified phenotypes are linked to suboptimal lung function, underscoring disease variability.