title: Can we predict the prognosis of COPD with a routine blood test?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The major characteristic of COPD is systemic inflammation. The parameters such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and eosinophil-to-basophil ratio (EBR) in routine blood test (RBT) are considered to be the underlying biomarkers of inflammation. We hypothesized that the prognosis of patients with COPD can be predicted with RBT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with COPD in stable stage were enrolled. The RBT, pulmonary function testing (PFT), BODE index, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were performed at enrollment and every follow-up once in every 3 months during the 24-month follow-up period. Meanwhile, exacerbation count and mortality incidence were recorded. The correlation between the prognostic biomarkers and the prognosis of patients was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The NLR and EBR in RBT have a significant correlation with the severity of patients with COPD. The NLR is an independent predictor for mortality and the EBR is an independent predictor for exacerbation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As an inexpensive, accessible, and convenient assay, RBT may be used as a practical means in the prediction of prognosis of patients with COPD in future clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardio-Pulmonary Circulation, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Gongli Hospital, Second Military Medical University.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Punan Hospital.
authors.forename: Yunfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Renji Hospital, Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xueling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardio-Pulmonary Circulation, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Bigyan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pudasaini
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardio-Pulmonary Circulation, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Jin-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D002681:China; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators
keywords: COPD; eosinophil-to-basophil ratio; inflammation; neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; prognosis; routine blood test