Latent classification via self-organizing maps: a study on hereditary hypertension

The latent classification technique (LCT) is a statistical tool for subdividing subjects into homogeneous groups according to important features. This study used the LCT to classify 698 subjects according to 11 risk factors associated with hypertension (HP) (e.g., blood cholesterol, urinary sodium) and identified subgroups whose odds of having parental HP were significantly high. Results showed that obese groups had higher odds as compared with other groups. In order to further establish the connection between risk factors and parental HP, this study classified subjects on a self-organizing map (SOM) and identified subgroups whose profiles on the risk factors were most similar, and whose odds of having parental HP were also high. The subgroups organized on the map closely matched those from the LCT