Temporal complexity in clinical manifestations of lung disease

Urs Frey, Geoffrey Maksym, Béla Suki

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

57 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this review, we summarize results of recent research on the temporal variability of lung function, symptoms, and inflammatory biomarkers. Specifically, we demonstrate how fluctuation analysis borrowed from statistical physics can be used to gain insight into neurorespiratory control and complex chronic dynamic diseases such as asthma viewed as a system of interacting components (e.g., inflammatory, immunological, and mechanical). Fluctuation analysis tools are based on quantifying the distribution and the shortand long-term temporal history of tidal breathing and lung function parameters to assess neurorespiratory control and monitor chronic disease. The latter includes the assessment of severity and disease control, the impact of treatment and environmental triggers, the temporal characterization of disease phenotypes, and the individual risk of exacerbation. While in many cases specific mechanistic insight into the fluctuations still awaits further research, appropriate analyses of the fluctuations already impact on clinical science and practice.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1723-1731
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Applied Physiology
Volume110
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2011

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Physiology
  • Physiology (medical)

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