Identifying wheezing phenotypes in a pediatric Turkish cohort

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Allergy and Immunology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Wheezing phenotypes in children are crucial for understanding asthma's underlying mechanisms.
• Identifying distinct wheezing patterns can aid in targeted interventions and management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize wheezing phenotypes in Turkish children.
• To identify risk factors associated with each identified wheezing phenotype.

Main Methods:

• Evaluation of 651 wheezy children.
• Classification of phenotypes based on age of onset, atopy, and persistence at 6 years.
• Identification of associated risk factors.

Main Results:

• Five phenotypes identified: transient early wheeze (TEW) (34.9%), non-atopic wheeze (NAW) (18%), atopic wheeze (AW) (22.3%), intermediate onset wheeze (IOW) (11.1%), and late onset wheeze (LOW) (11.7%).
• Phenotypes AW, IOW, and LOW were associated with parental and family atopy, and maternal asthma (p<0.05).
• Infections triggered TEW and NAW, while allergens and multiple triggers were common in AW, IOW, and LOW.

Conclusions:

• Five distinct wheezing phenotypes were classified in Turkish children.
• Atopy, family history of atopy, and maternal asthma are significant risk factors for AW, LOW, and IOW phenotypes.
• These phenotypes are frequently associated with allergen exposure or multiple triggers, suggesting different pathophysiological pathways.