TY - JOUR

T1 - High suPAR and Low blood Eosinophil Count are Risk Factors for Hospital Readmission and Mortality in Patients with COPD

AU - Håkansson, Kjell E.J.

AU - Ulrik, Charlotte S.

AU - Godtfredsen, Nina S.

AU - Kallemose, Thomas

AU - Andersen, Ove

AU - Eugen-Olsen, Jesper

AU - Marsaa, Kristoffer

AU - Rasmussen, Line J.H.

PY - 2020/4

Y1 - 2020/4

N2 - Introduction: The biomarker soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) has been associated with increased mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), while elevated blood eosinophils have been associated with better survival. We hypothesized that suPAR and blood eosinophil count are independent risk factors for readmission and mortality after an acute admission in patients with COPD. Methods: This retrospective cohort study comprised 4022 patients with prevalent COPD acutely admitted to Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark. Irrespective of cause of admission, suPAR and blood eosinophils were measured, and patients were followed up to 365 days. Associations with 365-day respiratory readmission, all-cause readmission and all-cause mortality were investigated by Cox regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, Charlson score and C-reactive protein. Results: suPAR was significantly elevated in patients who later experienced readmission or died. At 365 days, hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause readmission and mortality reached 1.61 (95% CI 1.40-1.85; p<0.0001) and 3.40 (95% CI 2.64-4.39; p<0.0001), respectively, for COPD patients in the fourth suPAR quartile compared to patients in the first suPAR quartile. High blood eosinophils (>300 cells/µL) were associated with lower risk of mortality (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.39-0.62; p<0.0001) compared with patients with <150 cells/µL. When stratifying patients by suPAR quartiles and blood eosinophil counts, the highest relative mortality rate was found in patients belonging to both the fourth suPAR quartile and the low blood eosinophil (<150 cells/µL) group. Conclusion: In this cohort of COPD patients acutely admitted to a hospital, elevated suPAR concentrations were associated with both higher risk of all-cause readmission and mortality, whereas higher blood eosinophil count was associated with lower risk of mortality.

AB - Introduction: The biomarker soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) has been associated with increased mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), while elevated blood eosinophils have been associated with better survival. We hypothesized that suPAR and blood eosinophil count are independent risk factors for readmission and mortality after an acute admission in patients with COPD. Methods: This retrospective cohort study comprised 4022 patients with prevalent COPD acutely admitted to Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark. Irrespective of cause of admission, suPAR and blood eosinophils were measured, and patients were followed up to 365 days. Associations with 365-day respiratory readmission, all-cause readmission and all-cause mortality were investigated by Cox regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, Charlson score and C-reactive protein. Results: suPAR was significantly elevated in patients who later experienced readmission or died. At 365 days, hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause readmission and mortality reached 1.61 (95% CI 1.40-1.85; p<0.0001) and 3.40 (95% CI 2.64-4.39; p<0.0001), respectively, for COPD patients in the fourth suPAR quartile compared to patients in the first suPAR quartile. High blood eosinophils (>300 cells/µL) were associated with lower risk of mortality (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.39-0.62; p<0.0001) compared with patients with <150 cells/µL. When stratifying patients by suPAR quartiles and blood eosinophil counts, the highest relative mortality rate was found in patients belonging to both the fourth suPAR quartile and the low blood eosinophil (<150 cells/µL) group. Conclusion: In this cohort of COPD patients acutely admitted to a hospital, elevated suPAR concentrations were associated with both higher risk of all-cause readmission and mortality, whereas higher blood eosinophil count was associated with lower risk of mortality.

KW - Acute admission

KW - Biomarker

KW - Hospitalization

KW - Inflammation

KW - Prognosis

KW - Retrospective cohort

U2 - 10.2147/COPD.S229904

DO - 10.2147/COPD.S229904

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 32308381

AN - SCOPUS:85083755507

VL - 15

SP - 733

EP - 743

JO - International Journal of COPD

JF - International Journal of COPD

SN - 1176-9106

ER -