A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

A clustering approach to identify severe bronchiolitis profiles in children




AuthorsDumas O, Mansbach JM, Jartti T, Hasegawa K, Sullivan AF, Piedra PA, Camargo CA

PublisherBMJ PUBLISHING GROUP

Publication year2016

JournalThorax

Journal name in sourceTHORAX

Journal acronymTHORAX

Volume71

Issue6

First page 712

Last page718

Number of pages7

ISSN0040-6376

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2016-208535(external)


Abstract
Objective Although bronchiolitis is generally considered a single disease, recent studies suggest heterogeneity. We aimed to identify severe bronchiolitis profiles using a clustering approach.Methods We analysed data from two prospective, multicentre cohorts of children younger than 2 years hospitalised with bronchiolitis, one in the USA (2007-2010 winter seasons, n=2207) and one in Finland (2008-2010 winter seasons, n=408). Severe bronchiolitis profiles were determined by latent class analysis, classifying children based on clinical factors and viral aetiology.Results In the US study, four profiles were identified. Profile A (12%) was characterised by history of wheezing and eczema, wheezing at the emergency department (ED) presentation and rhinovirus infection. Profile B (36%) included children with wheezing at the ED presentation, but, in contrast to profile A, most did not have history of wheezing or eczema; this profile had the largest probability of respiratory syncytial virus infection. Profile C (34%) was the most severely ill group, with longer hospital stay and moderate-to-severe retractions. Profile D (17%) had the least severe illness, including non-wheezing children with shorter length of stay. Two of these profiles (A and D) were replicated in the Finnish cohort; a third group ('BC') included Finnish children with characteristics of profiles B and/ or C in the US population.Conclusions Several distinct clinical profiles (phenotypes) were identified by a clustering approach in two multicentre studies of children hospitalised for bronchiolitis. The observed heterogeneity has important implications for future research on the aetiology, management and long-term outcomes of bronchiolitis, such as future risk of childhood asthma.



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