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May 20, 2026American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine0 citations

A34-25 From Counts to Coronaries: Eosinophilia, Chest CT Inflammation, and Cardiac Disease in COPD

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CFC R FrancoMMM MartinsABA Binda

Key Result

Eosinophilia (≥300 cells/µL) in COPD patients was not independently associated with coronary artery disease or heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (OR 1.51; 95% CI 0.55-4.15; p=0.419).

Key Points

  • The study aims to explore the relationship between eosinophilia, chest CT inflammation, and cardiac disease in patients with type 2-high COPD.
  • Retrospective, single-center cohort study from June 2022 to June 2025
  • Peripheral blood eosinophils were analyzed and CT scans were reviewed for inflammatory findings
  • Multivariate logistic regression estimated odds ratios for complications controlling for confounding factors.
  • Eosinophilia was not independently associated with symptoms on chest CT or coronary artery disease/heart failure (OR 1.51, 95% CI 0.55-4.15, p=0.419)
  • Point estimates >1 indicate potential cardiovascular signals, necessitating further studies
  • Suggests serial eosinophil assessments for refining risk stratification in COPD.

Study Design

Type

Cohort (n=90)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

Is eosinophilia associated with chest CT inflammation and cardiovascular comorbidities (CAD/HFrEF) in patients with COPD?

P
Population
90 patients with COPD
I
Intervention
Eosinophilia (≥300 cells/µL)
C
Comparator
Eosinophils < 300 cells/µL
O
Outcome
Inflammation on chest CT (inflammatory bronchopathy or mucus plug) and presence of CAD or HFrEFsurrogate

In patients with COPD, eosinophilia ≥300 cells/µL was not significantly associated with inflammatory findings on chest CT or the presence of CAD/HFrEF, though point estimates suggest a possible signal warranting further study.

Main Result

Effect estimate: OR 1.51 (95% CI 0.55-4.15)

p-value: p=0.419

Limitations

  • Retrospective design
  • Lack of blinded review of images
  • Lack of standardized CT criteria
  • Incomplete control of covariates (e.g., smoking, sex, systemic corticosteroid exposure)
  • Confounding by indication for inhaled corticosteroids
  • lack of blinded review of images
  • unstandardized CT criteria
  • lack of broader control of covariates (e.g., smoking, sex, systemic corticosteroid exposure)
  • confounding by indication for inhaled corticosteroids

Abstract

Abstract The structural correlates of type 2-high COPD (T2-high) on chest computed tomography, such as inflammatory bronchopathy and mucus impaction, and their relationship with major cardiovascular comorbidities are underreported in routine clinical practice. It is independently associated with inflammatory findings on chest computed tomography, coronary artery disease, and/or heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Methods Retrospective, single-center cohort study (June 2022 to June 2025) using electronic medical record data. Peripheral blood eosinophils were serially extracted (immediately after each dated record). CT scan reports were performed searching for “inflammatory bronchopathy” and/or “mucus plug,” and all CT scans were reviewed by the authors; interobserver agreement was substantial (κ ≈ 0.75). Only consensus findings were classified as present/absent for inflammatory bronchopathy or mucous tamponade. Comorbidities were extracted from medical records: coronary artery disease was defined by documented angioplasty or known coronary artery disease; heart failure with reduced ejection fraction less than a recorded diagnosis corroborated by an echocardiogram performed between 2022 and 2025 showing reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. Multivariate logistic regression of complete cases estimated adjusted odds ratios (OR) for (a) worsening on CT scan and (b) CAD/HFrEF, controlling for age, predicted FEV1%, inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use, and LAMA/LABA use. Eosinophilia was assessed ≥300 vs 300 cells/µL; sub-analyses of persistence or fluctuation were not performed due to limited incremental value. Results Ninety new patients were included in the adjusted models. Inflammation on CT: eosinophilia OR 1.37 (95% CI 0.54-3.47; p = 0.504). CAD/HFrEF: eosinophilia OR 1.51 (95% CI 0.55-4.15; p = 0.419). The models took into account spirometric severity and inhaled therapy; the effects of inhaled corticosteroids were not interpreted due to confounding by indication. Binary eosinophilia (≥300 cells/µL) was not independently associated with symptomatic findings on chest CT or coronary artery disease/heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Point estimates 1 suggest a possible structural and cardiovascular signal that justifies prospective studies with blinded review of images, standardized CT criteria, and broader control of covariates e.g., smoking, sex, systemic corticosteroid exposure. These data support serial eosinophil assessment to refine risk stratification in COPD with high T2 levels. This abstract is funded by: None

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Cite This Study

Franco et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in COPD (n=90). Eosinophilia (≥300 cells/µL) vs. Eosinophils <300 cells/µL was evaluated on Coronary artery disease or heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (CAD/HFrEF) (OR 1.51, 95% CI 0.55-4.15, p=0.419). Eosinophilia (≥300 cells/µL) in COPD patients was not independently associated with coronary artery disease or heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (OR 1.51; 95% CI 0.55-4.15; p=0.419).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a0d5100f03e14405aa9d3d0https://doi.org/10.1093/ajrccm/aamag162.1643
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Relationship between quantitative CT and cardiac function in patients with severe COPD exacerbations (ECOPD)2026
  2. 2Airway Response to Dual Bronchodilation and Its Association with Inflammatory Markers in Treatment-Naïve Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Quantitative Computed Tomography Study2026
  3. 3B44-23 Recounting the Risk: Serial Eosinophils and Exacerbations in COPD2026
  4. 4D30-04 Blood Eosinophil Count and Longitudinal Emphysema Progression on Serial CT2026
  5. 5Clinical evaluation of pulmonary quantitative computed tomography parameters for diagnosing eosinophilic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Characteristics and diagnostic performance2024 · 1 citations