title: Ten-year follow-up of cluster-based asthma phenotypes in adults. A pooled analysis of three cohorts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The temporal stability of adult asthma phenotypes identified using clustering methods has never been addressed. Longitudinal cluster-based methods may provide novel insights in the study of the natural history of asthma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the stability of cluster-based asthma phenotype structures a decade apart in adults and to address the individuals' phenotypic transition across these asthma phenotypes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The latent transition analysis was applied on longitudinal data (twice, 10 yr apart) from 3,320 adults with asthma who took part in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey, the Swiss Cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung and Heart Diseases in Adults, or the Epidemiological Study on Genetics and Environment of Asthma. Nine variables covering personal and phenotypic characteristics measured twice, 10 years apart, were simultaneously considered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Latent transition analysis identifies seven asthma phenotypes (prevalence range, 8.4-20.8%), mainly characterized by the level of asthma symptoms (low, moderate, high), the allergic status, and pulmonary function. Phenotypes observed 10 years apart showed strong similarities. The probability of membership in the same asthma phenotype at both times varied across phenotypes from 54 to 88%. Different transition patterns were observed across phenotypes. Transitions toward increased asthma symptoms were more frequently observed among nonallergic phenotypes as compared with allergic phenotypes. Results showed a strong stability of the allergic status over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adult asthma phenotypes identified by a clustering approach, 10 years apart, were highly consistent. This study is the first to model the probabilities of transitioning over time between comprehensive asthma phenotypes.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Reproduction and Respiratory Health Team, Centre de Recherche Albert Bonniot, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boudier
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Curjuric
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Basagaña
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hazgui
authors.forename: Josep M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Anto
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bousquet
authors.forename: Pierre O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Bridevaux
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dupuis-Lozeron
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garcia-Aymerich
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heinrich
authors.forename: Christer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Janson
authors.forename: Nino
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Künzli
authors.forename: Bénédicte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Leynaert
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Marco
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rochat
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schindler
authors.forename: Raphaëlle
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Varraso
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pin
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Probst-Hensch
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sunyer
authors.forename: Francine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kauffmann
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Siroux
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D018450:Disease Progression; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors