Latent class analysis to define radiological subgroups in pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial disease
Authors
Cowman, Steven A
Jacob, Joseph
Obaidee, Sayed
Floto, R Andres
Wilson, Robert
Haworth, Charles S
Loebinger, Michael R
Publication Date
2018-08-31Journal Title
BMC PULMONARY MEDICINE
ISSN
1471-2466
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Volume
18
Number
ARTN 145
Type
Article
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Cowman, S. A., Jacob, J., Obaidee, S., Floto, R. A., Wilson, R., Haworth, C. S., & Loebinger, M. R. (2018). Latent class analysis to define radiological subgroups in pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial disease. BMC PULMONARY MEDICINE, 18 (ARTN 145) https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-018-0675-8
Abstract
Background
Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pulmonary disease has conventionally been classified on the basis of radiology into fibrocavitary and nodular-bronchiectatic disease. Whilst being of great clinical utility, this may not capture the full spectrum of radiological appearances present. The aim of this study was to use latent class analysis (LCA) as an unbiased method of grouping subjects with NTM-pulmonary disease based on their CT features and to compare the clinical characteristics of these groups.
Methods
Individuals with NTM-pulmonary disease were recruited and a contemporaneous CT scan obtained. This was scored using an NTM-specific scoring system. LCA was used to identify groups with common radiological characteristics. The analysis was then repeated in an independent cohort.
Results
Three classes were identified in the initial cohort of 85 subjects. Group 1 was characterised by severe bronchiectasis, cavitation and aspergillomas, Group 2 by relatively minor radiological changes, and Group 3 by predominantly bronchiectasis only. These findings were reproduced in an independent cohort of 62 subjects. Subjects in Group 1 had a lower BMI and serum albumin, higher serum CRP, and a higher mortality.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that NTM-pulmonary may be divided into three radiological subgroups, and that important clinical and survival differences exist between these groups.
Keywords
Nontuberculous mycobacteria, Latent class analysis, High resolution computed tomography
Sponsorship
S.A.C. and M.R.L. were funded by a grant from the Welton Foundation. The Welton Foundation played no role in the conception or conduct of this study, nor the preparation of the manuscript.
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-018-0675-8
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/290008
Statistics
Total file downloads (since January 2020). For more information on metrics see the
IRUS guide.