Impact of blood eosinophil count on clinical outcomes in hospitalized Syrian patients with COPD exacerbation.

Objective: In this multicenter retrospective study, we evaluated the prognostic role of blood eosinophil count on clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: We included patients aged 20 to 90 years with a COPD diagnosis. Patients were divided into groups with blood eosinophil count ≤300 or >300 cells/μL and then further classified into 1-99, 100-300, or >300 cells/μL. We compared sociodemographic features and clinical outcomes between groups and identified risk factors associated with mortality in hospitalized patients with COPD and blood eosinophil count ≤300 cells/μL.

Results: In total, 217 patients were included (82% men, average age 64.3±10.3 years). Patients with eosinophil counts ≤300 cells/μL had significantly longer hospital stays, more admissions to the intensive care unit (22.2% vs. 4.3%), and more frequent mechanical ventilation (21.6% vs. 4.3%) than those with eosinophil counts >300 cells/μL. Mortality only occurred in the group with ≤300 cells/μL; patients with COPD who had eosinophil counts >300 cells/μL had significantly better survival rates (17.0% vs. 0%).

Conclusion: High blood eosinophil counts at admission were associated with improved short-term outcomes. Our findings reveal the importance of considering eosinophil counts in clinical decision-making to manage hospitalized patients with COPD.