Blood Eosinophil Counts in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Biomarker of Inhaled Corticosteroid Effects

Blood Eosinophil Count Stability and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in a High Endemic Area of Parasitic Infection: A Prospective Study

Background

The blood eosinophil count (BEC) is an effective biomarker for predicting inhaled corticosteroid responsiveness in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods

A 12-month prospective observational study was conducted in patients with COPD. BEC was measured at enrollment, and after 6 and 12 months. Patients were classified into 3 groups according to their baseline BEC: <100, 100-299, and ≥300 cells/µL. We aimed to describe the patterns of blood eosinophil stability in patients with stable COPD and compare the exacerbation rates and other clinical outcomes at 6 and 12 months.

Results

A total of 252 patients with COPD were included. The <100, 100-299, and ≥ 300 cells/μL groups consisted of 14.7%, 38.9%, and 46.4% of patients, respectively. BEC stability was highest (85%) in the ≥300 cells/μL group for both durations. The lowest stability was observed in the <100 cells/μL group at 57% and 46% after 6 and 12 months, respectively. The persistent ≥300 cells/μL group had a higher incidence of moderate-to-severe exacerbation (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 2.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13-5.27, p value 0.023), as well as severe exacerbation (IRR 2.19, 95%CI: 1.39-3.45, p value 0.001). Other patient-reported outcomes did not differ significantly between groups.

Conclusion

Blood eosinophil levels had good stability in patients with COPD with a BEC ≥300 cells/µL and was associated with a high risk of exacerbation in the persistent ≥300 cells/μL group. The variability of BEC was higher in patients with COPD with a BEC <300 cells/µL.

Risk factors of acute exacerbation and disease progression in young patients with COPD

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to elucidate the clinical factors associated with acute exacerbation and disease progression in young patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

METHODS

This retrospective longitudinal observational study included patients with COPD aged between 20 and 50 years with post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC)<0.7. Eligible patients were followed up with ≥2 spirometry examinations at 1 year interval after COPD diagnosis. The primary outcome was moderate-to-severe acute exacerbation in young patients with COPD. Secondary outcomes were early initiation of regular inhalation therapy and accelerated annual post-bronchodilator FEV1 decline.

RESULTS

A total of 342 patients were followed up during a median of 64 months. In multivariable analyses, risk factors for moderate-to-severe exacerbation were history of asthma (adjusted HR (aHR)=2.999, 95% CI=[2.074-4.335]), emphysema (aHR=1.951, 95% CI=[1.331-2.960]), blood eosinophil count >300/µL (aHR=1.469, 95% CI=[1.038-2.081]) and low FEV1 (%) (aHR=0.979, 95% CI=[0.970-0.987]). A history of asthma, sputum, blood eosinophil count >300/µL, low FEV1 (%) and low diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) (%) were identified as clinical factors associated with the early initiation of regular inhalation therapy. The risk factors associated with worsened FEV1 decline were increasing age, female sex, history of pulmonary tuberculosis, sputum, low FEV1 (%) and low DLCO (%).

CONCLUSIONS

In young COPD patients, specific high-risk features of acute exacerbation and disease progression need to be identified, including a history of previous respiratory diseases, current respiratory symptoms, blood eosinophil counts, and structural or functional pulmonary impairment.

Comparing Costs and Healthcare Resource Utilization (HCRU) Using LAMA versus LABA/ICS at Treatment Initiation for COPD: Findings from CITRUS (Comparing the Incidence of Tiotropium and ICS/LABA in Real-World Use in South Korea) Study

Background

COPD causes substantial economic burden on healthcare. Alternative treatment strategies for COPD can be associated with different costs dependent upon their relative safety and effectiveness. We compared costs and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) associated with LAMA or LABA/ICS initiation.

Methods

Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, we enrolled COPD patients initiating treatment with LAMA or LABA/ICS between January 2005 and April 2015. Propensity score matched individuals were compared on all-cause and COPD-related medical costs and HCRU over a three-year follow-up period.

Results

A total of 2444 patients were enrolled in each treatment group. LAMA group was associated with significantly lower costs than LABA/ICS group, both in all-cause (403.08 vs 474.50 USD per patient per month [PPPM], cost ratio 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.10-1.26, p<0.0001) and COPD-related (216.37 vs 267.32 USD PPPM, cost ratio 1.24, 95% CI=1.13-1.35, p<0.0001) medical costs. All-cause HCRU was not significantly different between groups, while COPD-related HRCU was higher in LAMA group (0.66 vs 0.60 medical visits PPPM, p<0.0001).

Conclusion

COPD patients initiating treatment with LAMA were associated with lower all-cause and COPD-related medical costs than those starting with LABA/ICS despite the similar all-cause HCRU and higher COPD-related HCRU. Initiation with LAMA is a cost-efficient option for the treatment of COPD.

[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): eosinophilia and novel drug therapies]

BACKGROUND

The phenotyping of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has increasingly gained attention in recent years, as it leads to new and individualized therapeutic concepts.

OBJECTIVE

The aim is to provide an overview of the heterogeneity of COPD and to summarize current drug therapy concepts, particularly in the context of eosinophilic airway inflammation.

DATA

Several prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled studies have shown a reduction in exacerbations and overall mortality with inhaled triple therapy using an inhaled corticosteroid and dual bronchodilation. The higher the eosinophils in the blood, the greater the expected effect. In addition, a reduction in exacerbations with biologics in COPD with eosinophilia has been demonstrated for dupilumab. Eosinophil-guided therapy for acute exacerbations is the subject of current research.

CONCLUSION

For COPD without exacerbations, dual bronchodilation forms the basis of inhaled therapy. With exacerbations, inhaled triple therapy is indicated for patients with a blood eosinophil count of ≥ 300/µl. This type of treatment may also be useful when eosinophils are between 100 and 300/µl. Therapy with dupilumab is a possible option for the eosinophilic phenotype in the near future.

Correlation of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and clinical outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is an acceptable and noninvasive marker for defining eosinophilic airway inflammation. Further study is necessary to clarify the role of FeNO in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study aimed to determine the association between FeNO levels and clinical outcomes.

METHODS

A prospective observational study was conducted at Songklanagarind Hospital from October 2020 to November 2022. FeNO testing and spirometry were performed at the initial visit and 12-month follow-up. Exacerbation, hospitalization, lung function decline, and all-cause mortality were analyzed to determine the association between FeNO levels and clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 60 patients with COPD were enrolled, 88.3 % of whom were male, with a mean age of 71.3 ± 9.5 years. There were 18 patients (30 %) in the high FeNO group (≥25 ppb) and 42 patients (70 %) in the low (<25 ppb) FeNO group. The mean blood eosinophil count (BEC) was significantly higher in the high FeNO group (p < 0.001). After a 12-month follow-up period, high FeNO group had higher exacerbation events (HR of 1.26, 95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.10-1.97, p= 0.025). Hospitalization and mortality rates were significantly higher in the high FeNO group. Regardless of the inhaled corticosteroids used, patients with high BEC and FeNO levels tended to have a greater risk of exacerbation.

CONCLUSION

In patients with COPD, FeNO levels are strongly correlated with BEC. Poor clinical outcomes were reported in patients with high FeNO levels. FeNO may be a useful biomarker for predicting clinical outcomes in patients with COPD.

Eosinophil values in exacerbation and stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and its relationship to maintenance therapy in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by persistent and progressive airflow limitations. The study aimed to determine the relationship between eosinophil values in patients with stable and exacerbated COPD, and the relationship of eosinophil values with two drug regimens used as maintenance therapy in stable COPD.

Materials and methods

This cross-sectional study and the variables used in this study were eosinophil counts in stable and exacerbated COPD patients.

Results

Eighty-three patients with stable and exacerbated COPD were included. Stable COPD (63.9%) was predominant, with the highest degree of symptoms in group A 18 patients (34%) and Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2; 35 patients (66%). The degree of COPD exacerbation was dominated by Type II COPD 15 patients (50%). Eosinophil counts in patients with stable COPD were less than 100 cells/mm3 37 patients (44.6%), while in patients with COPD exacerbation, it was greater than 100 cells/mm3 with a total of 30 patients (36.1%). Long acting muscarinic antagonist class of drugs was the most used treatment as maintenance therapy in stable COPD 34 patients (64.2%).

Conclusion

The eosinophil counts in patients with COPD exacerbation were significantly higher than those in patients with stable COPD. The provision of maintenance therapy in the long acting β-2 agonist + inhaled glucocorticosteroid group of stable COPD patients was generally provided to COPD patients with eosinophil values greater than 100 cells/mm3, and the provision of long-term maintenance therapy in stable COPD patients was generally given to COPD patients with eosinophil values less than 100 cells/mm3.

Investigating the rationale for COPD maintenance therapy prescription across Europe, findings from a multi-country study

This study aims to understand healthcare professionals' thoughts and motivations about optimal management and treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We conducted a DELPHI survey through an online questionnaire distributed to 220 panellists from six European countries and a discrete choice experiment to describe the relationship between selected clinical criteria and the initial COPD treatment of choice. One hundred twenty-seven panellists (general practitioners [GPs] and pulmonologists) completed the survey. Despite the familiarity and use (89.8%) of the GOLD classification for initial treatment selection, a frequent use of LAMA/LABA/ICS was noted. In fact, panellists agreed that inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are over-prescribed in the primary care setting. Our study showed that GPs felt less confident than pulmonologists with ICS withdrawal. This mismatch observed between best practice and behaviour indicates the need to increase awareness and efforts to improve the adherence to guidelines in clinical practice.

Stepwise management of COPD: What is next after bronchodilation?

Inhaled bronchodilator therapy with long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs) and long-acting β2-agonists (LABAs) in combination is currently the mainstay of treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Treatment guidelines recommend the addition of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) to LABA/LAMA only in patients with a history of frequent/severe exacerbations and high blood eosinophil counts, or in those with concomitant asthma. Despite this, real-world data suggest that clinicians are not adhering to this guidance and that ICS are frequently overused. This is possibly due to the incorrect assumption that when LABA/LAMA therapy is not sufficient, adding an ICS to the treatment regimen is the logical next step. In this narrative review, we describe global and country-specific guideline recommendations from Germany, Spain, and Japan and compare these with real-world data on LABA/LAMA and ICS use in clinical practice. We also provide a clinical guide to the use of add-on therapies with LABA/LAMA for different patient phenotypes, including (1) patients still symptomatic (but not exacerbating) despite LABA/LAMA treatment; (2) patients still exacerbating despite LABA/LAMA treatment who have high blood eosinophil counts; and (3) patients still exacerbating despite LABA/LAMA treatment who do not have high blood eosinophils or concomitant asthma.

Defining Asthma-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Overlap

Much interest has been given to the asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap (ACO) in the past 2 decades, but the condition is still ill-defined. There is general agreement that a patient with longstanding asthma who develops fixed airflow obstruction after years of smoking has ACO although defining asthma in the face of COPD can be challenging. Many features of asthma are also found in patients with COPD without indicating an overlap and no consensus exists on which characteristics should be included in the definition of ACO. Nevertheless, some guidance has been issued to help clinicians and researchers to make a diagnosis of ACO and these will be reviewed here.

Risk of Tuberculosis Caused by Fluticasone Propionate versus Budesonide in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

Background: In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) are recommended for use by patients with frequent exacerbations and blood eosinophilia. However, ICSs are often inappropriately prescribed and overused. COPD studies have reported an increased risk of tuberculosis among ICS users. This study aimed to compare the risk of tuberculosis according to the different ICS components. Methods: This study was conducted using a nationwide, population-based cohort. Patients newly diagnosed with COPD between 2005 and 2018, and treated with either fluticasone propionate or budesonide, were selected. The patients were followed up until the development of tuberculosis. Results: After propensity score matching, 16,514 fluticasone propionate and 16,514 budesonide users were identified. The incidence rate of tuberculosis per 100,000 person-years was 274.73 for fluticasone propionate and 214.18 for budesonide. The hazard ratio of tuberculosis in fluticasone propionate compared with budesonide was 1.28 (95% confidence interval 1.05–1.60). The risk of tuberculosis for fluticasone propionate increased with higher ICS cumulative doses: 1.01 (0.69–1.48), 1.16 (0.74–1.81), 1.25 (0.79–1.97), and 1.82 (1.27–2.62) from the lowest to highest quartiles, respectively. Conclusion: Fluticasone propionate is associated with a higher risk of tuberculosis than budesonide. ICS components can differently affect the risk of tuberculosis in patients with COPD.

Comparison of Risk of Pneumonia Caused by Fluticasone Propionate versus Budesonide in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study

Introduction

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) play an important role in lowering the risk of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, ICSs are known to increase the risk of pneumonia. Moreover, previous studies have shown that the incidence rate of pneumonia varies depending on the type of ICS. In this study, the risk of pneumonia according to the type of ICS was investigated in a population-based cohort.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using claims data of the entire population from the Korean National Health Insurance Service. Patients who were newly diagnosed with COPD and prescribed fluticasone propionate or budesonide were enrolled as study subjects. Cumulative doses of ICSs were classified into categorical variables to analyze the risk of pneumonia within identical ICS doses.

Results

A total of 47,473 subjects were identified and allocated as 14,518 fluticasone propionate and 14,518 budesonide users through 1:1 propensity score matching. Fluticasone propionate users were more likely to develop pneumonia than budesonide users (14.22% vs 10.66%, p<0.0001). The incidence rate per 100,000 person-years was 2,914.77 for fluticasone propionate users and 2,102.90 for budesonide users. The hazard ratio (HR) of pneumonia in fluticasone propionate compared to budesonide was 1.34 (95% CI 1.26–1.43, p<0.0001). The risk of pneumonia for fluticasone propionate compared to budesonide increased with higher ICS cumulative doses: 1.06 (0.93–1.21), 1.41 (1.19–1.66), 1.41 (1.23–1.63), and 1.49 (1.33–1.66) from the lowest to highest quartiles, respectively.

Conclusion

ICS types and doses need to be carefully considered during treatment with ICSs in patients with COPD.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, blood eosinophils and COPD exacerbations: a cohort study

BACKGROUND

Blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and blood eosinophils (B-Eos) are emerging biomarkers in COPD. This study examined whether they could predict acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPDs), and determined their longitudinal stability.

METHODS

In this closed cohort study, Swedish subjects with spirometry-verified COPD attended three yearly visits in a stable phase of the disease. Blood cell counts, spirometry and questionnaire-assessed AECOPD-history (worsening of COPD leading to an unscheduled visit and/or use of antibiotics and/or oral corticosteroids) were collected at each visit.

RESULTS

Of 466 included subjects 57% were female. Baseline mean±sd forced expiratory volume in 1 s was 58±17% predicted. High NLR (≥3.0) was more common in subjects with previous AECOPDs than in those without (33.5% versus 20.4%, p=0.002). In two-level mixed-effects logistic regression models adjusted for confounders, NLR as a continuous variable (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.04-1.38) and B-Eos ≥300 cells·µL-1 (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.06-2.24) were associated with future AECOPDs. In 386 subjects with blood cell data available at all three visits, the intraclass correlation coefficient for NLR was 0.61 (95% CI 0.56-0.66) and for B-Eos 0.69 (95% CI 0.64-0.73). NLR was persistently ≥3.0 in 10.6% and B-Eos was persistently ≥300 cells·µL-1 in 15.3%.

CONCLUSIONS

Stable phase NLR and B-Eos were associated with future AECOPDs. NLR on its own is probably not useful to predict AECOPDs but might be included in a risk scoring index. A minority of subjects with COPD had persistently elevated stable-phase NLR or B-Eos, and the biomarkers showed fair longitudinal reliability.

Word Embedding Reveals Cyfra 21-1 as a Biomarker for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

BACKGROUND

Although patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experience high morbidity and mortality worldwide, few biomarkers are available for COPD. Here, we analyzed potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of COPD by using word embedding.

METHODS

To determine which biomarkers are likely to be associated with COPD, we selected respiratory disease-related biomarkers. Degrees of similarity between the 26 selected biomarkers and COPD were measured by word embedding. And we infer the similarity with COPD through the word embedding model trained in the large-capacity medical corpus, and search for biomarkers with high similarity among them. We used Word2Vec, Canonical Correlation Analysis, and Global Vector for word embedding. We evaluated the associations of selected biomarkers with COPD parameters in a cohort of patients with COPD.

RESULTS

Cytokeratin 19 fragment (Cyfra 21-1) was selected because of its high similarity and its significant correlation with the COPD phenotype. Serum Cyfra 21-1 levels were determined in patients with COPD and controls (4.3 ± 5.9 vs. 3.9 ± 3.6 ng/mL, P = 0.611). The emphysema index was significantly correlated with the serum Cyfra 21-1 level (correlation coefficient = 0.219, P = 0.015).

CONCLUSION

Word embedding may be used for the discovery of biomarkers for COPD and Cyfra 21-1 may be used as a biomarker for emphysema. Additional studies are needed to validate Cyfra 21-1 as a biomarker for COPD.

Aclidinium bromide/formoterol fumarate as a treatment for COPD: an update

Introduction: Aclidinium/formoterol is a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) and long-acting β₂-agonist (LABA) dual bronchodilator used as a maintenance treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The efficacy of aclidinium/formoterol has been demonstrated consistently in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD versus placebo and monocomponents, with a comparable safety profile.Areas covered: This review examines recent research findings that expand our understanding of the impact of aclidinium/formoterol on the burden of COPD. Reviewed outcomes include improvements in lung function, respiratory symptoms, health-related quality of life, exercise tolerance, exacerbation rates, and clinically important deteriorations. In addition, the reported cardiovascular safety of aclidinium and current LAMA/LABA treatment recommendations are discussed.Expert opinion: Aclidinium/formoterol reduces disease burden in patients with COPD, including those that are treatment-naïve, without a significant increase in safety risk compared with monotherapies. Furthermore, evidence supports an improvement in lung function over a 24-hour period with aclidinium/formoterol treatment versus monotherapy and placebo, which may offer an advantage over some once-daily LAMA/LABA combinations. In summary, the recent evidence discussed in this review adds weight to the use of LAMA/LABA combinations as an initial therapy for certain patients newly diagnosed with COPD.

Pharmacological treatment of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Pharmacological treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) aims to alleviate symptoms and reduce the future risk of events such as exacerbations, disease progression and death. The heterogeneity of COPD results in variable responses to pharmacological interventions. COPD treatment has evolved towards a precision medicine approach, integrating clinical and biomarker information in order to optimize treatment decisions for each individual. The evidence supporting the use of blood eosinophil counts to predict responses to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in COPD patients has led to the adoption of this biomarker for use in clinical practice. The development of novel double and triple inhaled combination treatments containing long-acting bronchodilators with or without ICS has involved some landmark randomized controlled trials in COPD patients. These studies have provided valuable evidence to direct the use of different classes of combination treatments. However, there are still some unresolved questions and debates. This review article describes the advances in the pharmacological treatment of COPD, particularly the personalization of treatment. The evidence base for current recommendations is discussed, and controversial issues are dissected.

Using Blood Eosinophil Count as a Biomarker to Guide Corticosteroid Treatment for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Treating patients hospitalised with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) usually involves administering systemic corticosteroids. The many unwanted side effects associated with this treatment have led to increased interest in minimising the accumulated corticosteroid dose necessary to treat exacerbations. Studies have shown that short-term treatment with corticosteroids is preferred, and recent trials have shown that biomarkers can be used to further reduce exposure to corticosteroids. Interestingly, high eosinophil counts in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD are indicative of an eosinophilic phenotype with a distinct response to treatment with corticosteroids. In addition, post-hoc analysis of randomised control trials have shown that higher blood eosinophil counts at the start of the study predict a greater response to inhaled corticosteroids in stable COPD. In this review, we examine the studies on this topic, describe how blood eosinophil cell count may be used as a biomarker to guide treatment with corticosteroids, and identify some relevant challenges.