Abstract
Factors not associated with respiratory disease that influence blood eosinophil (B-Eos) count have not been clearly defined. We aimed to evaluate the influence of non-respiratory diseases on B-Eos count and to identify individual characteristics, including gender and body mass index, associated with B-Eos count in individuals without respiratory disease.
Individuals (18-85 years) with complete B-Eos data from the US National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys 2005–2016 were grouped as having respiratory disease (n=7,894) or not having respiratory disease (n=15,010). Among those without respiratory disease, non-respiratory diseases that were independently associated with B-Eos count were obtained by multivariate linear regression. After excluding significant non-respiratory diseases, independent associations between individual characteristics and B-Eos count were analysed in 5,667 healthy controls.
Having metabolic syndrome, heart disease and stroke were associated with 12%, 13%, and 15% higher B-Eos count, respectively (p<0.001 for all). In healthy controls, male sex and obesity were associated with higher B-Eos counts (14% and 19% higher, respectively) (p<0.01 both), while age was not a significant determinant (p=0.290). Also, current smokers had 17% higher B-Eos counts than never smokers (p<0.001).
Non-respiratory diseases influence B-Eos count in adults without respiratory disease from the general population. Male sex, obesity, and current smoking, but not age, were individual characteristics or exposures that were associated with higher B-Eos level. These factors should be considered when using B-Eos count in the management of respiratory diseases.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, PA1152.
This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2021