Data-driven questionnaire-based cluster analysis of asthma in Swedish adults

NPJ Prim Care Respir Med. 2020 Apr 6;30(1):14. doi: 10.1038/s41533-020-0168-0.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify asthma phenotypes through cluster analysis. Cluster analysis was performed using self-reported characteristics from a cohort of 1291 Swedish asthma patients. Disease burden was measured using the Asthma Control Test (ACT), the mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (mini-AQLQ), exacerbation frequency and asthma severity. Validation was performed in 748 individuals from the same geographical region. Three clusters; early onset predominantly female, adult onset predominantly female and adult onset predominantly male, were identified. Early onset predominantly female asthma had a higher burden of disease, the highest exacerbation frequency and use of inhaled corticosteroids. Adult onset predominantly male asthma had the highest mean score of ACT and mini-AQLQ, the lowest exacerbation frequency and higher proportion of subjects with mild asthma. These clusters, based on information from clinical questionnaire data, might be useful in primary care settings where the access to spirometry and biomarkers is limited.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Adult
  • Age of Onset
  • Aged
  • Asthma / classification
  • Asthma / drug therapy
  • Asthma / epidemiology
  • Asthma / physiopathology*
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Comorbidity
  • Cost of Illness
  • Diabetes Mellitus / epidemiology
  • Disease Progression*
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Phenotype
  • Primary Health Care
  • Quality of Life*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Rhinitis / epidemiology
  • Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / epidemiology
  • Severity of Illness Index*
  • Sex Factors
  • Sinusitis / epidemiology
  • Sleep Apnea Syndromes / epidemiology
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Sweden / epidemiology

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids