Systemic White Blood Cell Count as a Biomarker Associated with Severity of Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease.
10.4046/trd.2017.80.3.304
- Author:
Hyeon Kyoung KOO
1
;
Hyung Koo KANG
;
Pamela SONG
;
Hye Kyeong PARK
;
Sung Soon LEE
;
Hoon JUNG
Author Information
1. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea. geny2000@paik.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive;
Leukocyte Count;
Respiratory Function Tests;
Quality of Life
- MeSH:
Adult;
Humans;
Leukocyte Count*;
Leukocytes*;
Linear Models;
Lung;
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive*;
Quality of Life;
Respiratory Function Tests;
Risk Factors;
Smoke;
Smoking;
Vital Capacity
- From:Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
2017;80(3):304-310
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a chronic inflammatory disorder. We evaluated whether white blood cell (WBC) count, is associated with the severity of COPD, independent of other inflammatory conditions, such as metabolic syndrome. METHODS: The WBC counts were compared between 1227 COPD patients and 8679 non-COPD adults older than 40. The relationships between the WBC count, lung function, and symptoms score in COPD patients, were determined, using general linear regression analyses. RESULTS: The WBC count was negatively associated with forced vital capacity (FVC, L), FVC (% predicted), forced expiry volume in one second (FEV₁, L), and FEV₁ (% predicted) in COPD patients. Additionally, the WBC count was independently associated with the quality of life measure, by EQ5D-index score. However, this relationship between WBC count, and disease severity, was not significant in current smokers, because of the confounding effect of smoking, on the WBC count. CONCLUSION: The WBC count is associated with current smoking status and COPD severity, and a risk factor for poor lung function, and quality of life, especially in non-currently smoking COPD patients. The WBC count can be used, as an easily measurable COPD biomarker.
