Patterns of aeroallergen sensitization in asthma patients identified by latent class analysis: A cross-sectional study in China

Jiale Zhang; Wenting Luo; Guoping Li; Huali Ren; Jie Su; Jianxin Sun; Ruifen Zhong; Siqin Wang; Zhen'an Li; Yan Zhao; Huashou Ke; Ting Chen; Chun Xv; Zhenglin Chang; Liting Wu; Xianhui Zheng; Miaoyuan Xv; Qingyuan Ye; Chuangli Hao; Baoqing Sun

doi:10.1002/clt2.12271

Patterns of aeroallergen sensitization in asthma patients identified by latent class analysis: A cross-sectional study in China

Clin Transl Allergy. 2023 Jul;13(7):e12271. doi: 10.1002/clt2.12271.

Authors

Jiale Zhang¹, Wenting Luo¹, Guoping Li², Huali Ren³, Jie Su⁴, Jianxin Sun⁵, Ruifen Zhong⁶, Siqin Wang⁷, Zhen'an Li⁸, Yan Zhao⁹, Huashou Ke¹⁰, Ting Chen¹¹, Chun Xv¹², Zhenglin Chang¹, Liting Wu¹, Xianhui Zheng¹, Miaoyuan Xv¹, Qingyuan Ye¹, Chuangli Hao¹³, Baoqing Sun¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Laboratory, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
² Laboratory of Allergy and Precision Medicine, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chengdu Institute of Respiratory Health, Chengdu Third People's Hospital Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Chengdu, China.
³ Department of Allergy, State Grid Beijing Electric Power Hospital, Capital Medical University Electric Power Teaching Hospital, Beijing, China.
⁴ The Second People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, China.
⁵ The Second People's Hospital of Zhaoqing, Zhaoqing, China.
⁶ Dongguan Eighth People's Hospital, Dongguan, China.
⁷ Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.
⁸ Foshan Maternal Child Health Hospital, Foshan, China.
⁹ Department of Allergy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
¹⁰ Maoming Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Maoming, China.
¹¹ Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China.
¹² Jiangxi Medical College, Shangrao, China.
¹³ Department of Respiratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.

Abstract

Background: This cross-sectional study aimed to identify latent sensitization profiles of asthma patients in mainland China, unveiling the association between regional differences and sensitization patterns.

Methods: 1056 asthma participants from 10 medical centers divided into eastern and western cohorts were clustered into four individual sensitization patterns, respectively, by using an unsupervised statistical modeling method, latent class analysis (LCA), based on the levels of 12 aeroallergens specific IgE reactivities. Moreover, differences in clinical characteristics and environmental exposures were compared in different sensitization patterns.

Results: Four distinct sensitization patterns in the two cohorts were defined as follows, respectively. Eastern cohort: Class 1: "High weed pollen and house dust mites (HDMs) sensitization" (8.87%), Class 2: "HDMs dominated sensitization" (38.38%), Class 3: "High HDMs and animal dander sensitization" (6.95%), Class 4: "Low/no aeroallergen sensitization" (45.80%). Western cohort: Class 1: "High weed pollen sensitization" (26.14%), Class 2: "High multi-pollen sensitization" (15.02%), Class 3: "HDMs-dominated sensitization" (10.33%), Class 4: "Low/no aeroallergen sensitization" (48.51%). Of note, the significant statistical difference in age, asthma control test score (ACT) and comorbidities were observed within or between different sensitization patterns. Exposure factors in different sensitization patterns were pointed out.

Conclusions: Asthmatic patients with distinct sensitization patterns were clustered and identified through the LCA method, disclosing the relationship between sensitization profiles of multiple aeroallergens and geographical differences, providing novel insights and potential strategies for atopic disease monitoring, management and prevention in clinical practice.

Keywords: airborne allergen; asthma; latent class analysis (LCA); sIgE; sensitization pattern.

Abstract

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