@article{3005304,
    title = "Blood eosinophils as predictor of outcomes in patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbations: a prospective observational study",
    author = "Kostikas, K. and Papathanasiou, E. and Papaioannou, A.I. and Bartziokas, K. and Papanikolaou, I.C. and Antonakis, E. and Makou, I. and Hillas, G. and Karampitsakos, Τ. and Papaioannou, O. and Dimakou, K. and Apollonatou, V. and Verykokou, G. and Papiris, S. and Bakakos, P. and Loukides, S.",
    journal = "Biomarker Insights",
    year = "2021",
    volume = "26",
    number = "4",
    pages = "354-362",
    publisher = "Taylor and Francis Ltd.",
    issn = "1177-2719",
    doi = "10.1080/1354750X.2021.1903998",
    keywords = "antibiotic agent;  biological marker;  C reactive protein;  corticosteroid;  C reactive protein;  corticosteroid, aged;  Article;  blood;  chronic obstructive lung disease;  clinical decision making;  clinical evaluation;  controlled study;  disease exacerbation;  dyspnea;  eosinophil;  female;  follow up;  fraction of inspired oxygen;  Horowitz index;  hospital admission;  hospital discharge;  hospital patient;  human;  major clinical study;  male;  mortality;  multicenter study;  observational study;  outcome assessment;  post hoc analysis;  predictive value;  prospective study;  blood;  chronic obstructive lung disease;  clinical trial;  disease exacerbation;  eosinophil;  hospitalization;  Kaplan Meier method;  length of stay;  leukocyte count;  metabolism;  middle aged;  prognosis;  prospective study, Adrenal Cortex Hormones;  Aged;  C-Reactive Protein;  Disease Progression;  Eosinophils;  Female;  Hospitalization;  Humans;  Kaplan-Meier Estimate;  Length of Stay;  Leukocyte Count;  Male;  Middle Aged;  Outcome Assessment, Health Care;  Prognosis;  Prospective Studies;  Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive",
    abstract = "Purpose: In the present prospective multicentre observational study, we evaluated the potential role of blood eosinophils on the outcomes of patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbations. Material and methods: Consecutive patients >40 years with a previous COPD diagnosis were recruited. Blood eosinophils were measured on admission prior to the initiation of treatment and were evaluated in three groups (<50, 50–149 and ≥150 cells/μL). Patients received standard care and were followed up for a year. Results: A total of 388 patients were included (83.5% male, mean age 72 years). Patients with higher blood eosinophils had less dyspnoea (Borg scale), lower C-reactive protein (CRP) and higher PaO2/FiO2 (partial pressure for oxygen/fraction of inhaled oxygen), and were discharged earlier (median 11 vs. 9 vs. 5 days for patients with <50, 50–149 and ≥150 cells/μL, respectively). Patients with <50 cells/μL presented higher 30-day and 1-year mortality, whereas there were no differences in moderate/severe COPD exacerbations between the three groups. In a post hoc analysis, treatment with inhaled corticosteroids as per physicians’ decision was associated with better exacerbation prevention during follow-up in patients with ≥150 cells/μL. Conclusions: Higher blood eosinophils were associated with better outcomes in hospitalized COPD patients, further supporting their use as a prognostic biomarker. © 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group."
}