title: Is multidimensional scaling suitable for mapping the input respiratory impedance in subjects and patients?
abstract: This paper presents the application of multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis to data emerging from noninvasive lung function tests, namely the input respiratory impedance. The aim is to obtain a geometrical mapping of the diseases in a 3D space representation, allowing analysis of (dis)similarities between subjects within the same pathology groups, as well as between the various groups. The adult patient groups investigated were healthy, diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and diagnosed kyphoscoliosis, respectively. The children patient groups were healthy, asthma and cystic fibrosis. The results suggest that MDS can be successfully employed for mapping purposes of restrictive (kyphoscoliosis) and obstructive (COPD) pathologies. Hence, MDS tools can be further examined to define clear limits between pools of patients for clinical classification, and used as a training aid for medical traineeship.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Energy, Systems and Automation, Ghent University, Technologiepark 913, Gent-Zwijnaarde 9052, Belgium. ClaraMihaela.Ionescu@UGent.be
authors.forename: Clara M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ionescu
authors.forename: Jose Tenreiro
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Keyser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology; D012016:Reference Values; D012119:Respiration; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests