Asthma phenotypes in Niue Islanders

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify asthma phenotypes in patients of Niue Island ancestry that might be suitable for susceptibility gene mapping studies. Methodology: Two hundred and sixteen Niue Islanders with physician-diagnosed asthma that was not secondary to other medical conditions were recruited through community organisations. Fifty-one of the subjects with asthma were resident on Niue Island and 165 in New Zealand. Each subject was interviewed and tested for atopy, serum [IgE] (5% quantile, median, 95% quantile) and lung function. Results: There were two groups of subjects denned by an age of onset of asthma less than 12 years of age (childhood-onset, boys:girls 64:65) ..