Figures
- FIGURE 1
Number of exacerbations by inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) usage. a) ICS inhaler (mean number of exacerbations 1.38) and b) no ICS inhaler (mean number of exacerbnations 0.69).
- FIGURE 2
Scatter plot of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) versus number of exacerbations in patients with >1 exacerbation. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence severity cut-off points are indicated by red vertical lines. Correlation: −0.16.
- FIGURE 3
Number of exacerbations by presence or absence of elevated blood eosinophil count (EOS). a) No EOS (mean number of exacerbations 0.80) and b) at least one positive EOS reading (mean number of exacerbations 1.30).
- FIGURE 4
Number of exacerbations by both inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) usage and elevated blood eosinophil count (EOS). a) No ICS use, no EOS (mean 0.65, 25th–75th percentiles 0–0), b) no ICS use, EOS (mean 0.75, 25th–75th percentiles 0–2), c) ICS use, no EOS (mean 0.97, 25th–75th percentiles 0–1), and d) ICS use, EOS (mean 1.76, 25th–75th percentiles 0–3).
- FIGURE 5
Predicted number of COPD exacerbations in the year preceding data collection from inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) inhaler use, elevated blood eosinophil count (EOS) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). Pairwise comparisons indicated ICS+EOS was significantly different from the other three groups, but no other significant differences were seen.
Tables
- TABLE 1
COPD exacerbations: relationship to raised eosinophil count (EOS), inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) treatment and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)
Variable Univariable (95% CI) p-value Excluding FEV1/FVC ratio >0.70 univariable (95% CI) p-value EOS at least 1 value ≥0.3×109·L−1 1.62 (1.23−2.15) 0.0006 1.75 (1.50−2.05) <0.0001 EOS single elevated reading 1.40 (0.84−2.42) 0.18 2.21 (1.71−2.86) <0.0001 EOS ≥2 readings 1.63 (1.11−2.40) 0.013 1.84 (1.48−2.78) <0.0001 ICS inhaler 2 (1.51−2.63) <0.0001 2.13 (1.81−2.51) <0.0001 FEV1 % predicted 0.98 (0.97−0.99) <0.0001 0.98 (0.98−0.99) <0.0001 Data are presented as incidence rate ratios. FVC: forced vital capacity.
