LCA
Of the 232 infants, 68 were excluded due to missing data leaving a total of 164 infants for LCA (Figure). A Class-5 model was identified using LCA (Table-3). Class-5 model had the highest Entropy value and Class-3 model had the lowest aBIC value, however Class-5 model was chosen as the best-fitting model for LCA based on Entropy value and the clinic importance of the models. The five profiles included within the Class-5 model are described below and in Table-4.
Profile-A (23.8% of cohort) had the highest frequency of infants born preterm (90.7% vs 0.0-12.6%); low birth weight (89.2% vs 0.0-15.0% for other profiles), poor growth weight-for-length z-score of <-1 (82.7% from combining those with z-score between -1 and -2 and those in the z-score of <-2 group vs. 0.0-36.0% for other profiles), and previous respiratory hospitalisations (39.6% vs. 11.1-19.4%). Infants in this profile had the second highest frequency of bronchiectasis (35.4%).
Profile-B (25.3% of cohort) was characterised by highest detection of RSV (48.6%), marked accessory muscle use (45.5% vs. 13.4-26.2%), supplemental oxygen requirement (100% along with Profile C) and LOS [60-96-hrs (48.1 vs. 0.0-30.5%) and >96-hours (34.4% vs. 0.0-31.2%)], but none had bronchiectasis.
Profile-C (7% of cohort) was the smallest group characterised by bronchiectasis in 100% (compared to 0.0-35.4% for other profiles), the highest frequency of moderate accessory muscle use (84.7% vs 0.0-51.4%), presence of ‘any bacteria’ (93.1% vs 56.7-72.0%), any co-morbidity (75.4% vs. 33.9-68.3%) and supplemental oxygen requirement (100.0%).
Profile-D (11.6% of cohort) had the highest prevalence of hRV (49.4% vs 23.2-32.5%) and mild accessory use (73.8% vs 0.0-54.2%). Weight-for-length z-score <-2 was higher in this group (36.0% vs. 8.2-23.9%) with the least having bronchiectasis (7.0%).
Profile-E (32.2% of cohort) was characterised by RSV detected in 44.0%, HRV in 26.3%, any bacteria in 72.0%. None had low birth weight (0.0%); most had LOS <48-hours (39.8%), low requirement for oxygen supplementation (20.3%) but 13.8% had bronchiectasis.