Frequency of Eosinophilia in Patients with Acute Exacerbation of COPD

Abstract

Background: Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) represent a major global burden, and blood eosinophils have emerged as a promising biomarker for phenotyping and treatment response. However, local data on eosinophilia prevalence among hospitalized AECOPD patients in South Asia remain limited. Objective: To determine the frequency of blood eosinophilia in patients admitted with AECOPD and to evaluate its distribution across demographic and exposure-related covariates. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 195 patients aged 20–80 years presenting with AECOPD at the Department of Pulmonology, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad (December 2024–May 2025). COPD diagnosis was confirmed through spirometry. Blood samples were analyzed for eosinophil counts, with eosinophilia defined as ≥2% or ≥150 cells/µL. Data were recorded on a standardized proforma and analyzed using SPSS 20, applying chi-square tests with p<0.05 as significance. Results: Mean age was 51.69±14.74 years; 54.36% were male. Overall eosinophilia prevalence was 53.33%. Younger patients (20–50 years) showed higher eosinophilia (61.1%) compared with older adults (46.7%). Middle socioeconomic status had the highest prevalence (65.3%). Age and socioeconomic status were significantly associated with eosinophilia. Conclusion: More than half of hospitalized AECOPD patients exhibited blood eosinophilia, supporting its value as a practical, accessible biomarker for phenotyping and guiding individualized therapy in clinical settings.