To Evaluate the Role of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Eosinophils in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Prospective Observational Study
Imrana Masood, Shah Mohammad Abbas Waseem, Mohd Amir, Syed Hilal Hussain
Context: The peripheral blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been studied as an inflammatory marker in many illnesses and solid tumors, but its usefulness as a biomarker of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation and its predictive value for COPD-related hospital admissions are still not established.
Aims: The present study was designed to elucidate the levels of the NLR and eosinophil in smokers and nonsmokers male subjects with stable COPD.
Settings and design: This prospective observational clinical study was conducted on 73 male stable COPD patients (35–60 years) from January to June 2023 after approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee. Complete blood counts (to calculate NLR and find the subjects with eosinophil higher or lower than 2%) and spirometry were performed.
Statistical analysis: A point estimate and 95% confidence interval were estimated.
Results: 61.65% were smokers (n = 45) and 38.35% were nonsmokers (n = 28). In smokers, 14 (31.11%) had moderate while 15 (33.33%) had severe COPD. In the nonsmoker group (n = 28), 13 (46.43%) had moderate while 11 (39.29%) had severe COPD. In smokers, 68.89% (31/45) had an NLR > 3; in nonsmokers, 57.14% (16/28) had an NLR < 3. Eosinophil counts >2% were found in 28 smokers (62.22%), whereas in nonsmokers, eosinophil counts >2% were found in 67.86% of subjects (19 out of 28 nonsmokers).
Conclusion: The levels of eosinophils and NLR were higher in smokers as compared to nonsmokers with COPD. 68.89% and 62.22% of smokers with COPD had NLR >3 and eosinophil >2%, respectively. NLR and eosinophils are potential cost effective markers in COPD.
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