Establishing a patient registry study database of dust mite allergic asthma in children: design, methodology and preliminary exploration

Juan Zhou; Weiguo Li; Xiang Wen; Dan Zeng; Jilei Lin; Shiyi Chen; Na Zang; Yu Deng; Xiaohong Xie; Luo Ren; Enmei Liu

doi:10.21037/atm-21-2566

Establishing a patient registry study database of dust mite allergic asthma in children: design, methodology and preliminary exploration

Ann Transl Med. 2021 Jun;9(12):993. doi: 10.21037/atm-21-2566.

Authors

Juan Zhou^{1

2

3}, Weiguo Li^{1

2}, Xiang Wen^{1

2}, Dan Zeng^{1

2}, Jilei Lin^{1

2}, Shiyi Chen^{2

4}, Na Zang^{1

2}, Yu Deng^{1

2}, Xiaohong Xie^{1

2}, Luo Ren^{2

4}, Enmei Liu^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Respiratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.
² Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China.
³ Department of Pediatrics, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Medical College of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China.
⁴ Pediatric Research Institute Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.

Abstract

Background: Asthma is a heterogeneous disease with different phenotypes, endotypes and responses to treatment. Dust mite allergic asthma (DMAA) is the most common type in children. Compared with randomized control trials, a patient registry study (PRS) can reflect the real physical condition and clinical diagnosis more comprehensively.

Methods: Children who visited the asthma clinic of the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between August 2018 and August 2020, and met the inclusion criteria and also agreed to participate, were enrolled in the registry study. Clinical information, laboratory tests and peripheral blood samples were collected after informed consent was given by guardians.

Results: To date, 208 children have been enrolled in the patient registry database of DMAA. They are mainly male, with >50% having a history of allergic rhinitis, cesarean section, positive family history and passive smoking. Eosinophils and total immunoglobulin E levels were all significantly higher than normal. According to results for the childhood asthma control test (c-ACT) and ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to predicted value after inhaled corticosteroid treatment, the uncontrolled group had higher hemoglobin (Hb) levels than the control group. The group exhibiting abnormal pulmonary function was older, and had longer disease duration, higher fractional exhaled nitric oxide and Hb than the group in which pulmonary function was restored.

Conclusions: We have preliminarily established a registered study database of children with DMAA. By cluster analysis and using blood samples, we can further study the different pathophysiological mechanisms in order to provide more individualized and targeted treatments for all children.

Keywords: Allergic asthma; children; dust mites; registry study database.