Tuberc Respir Dis.  2017 Jul;80(3):304-310. 10.4046/trd.2017.80.3.304.

Systemic White Blood Cell Count as a Biomarker Associated with Severity of Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease

• Koo HK
• Kang HK
• Song P
• Park HK
• Lee SS
• Jung H

• KMID: 2385047
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2017.80.3.304

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.

Keyword

Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Leukocyte Count; Respiratory Function Tests; Quality of Life

MeSH Terms

Adult
Humans
Leukocyte Count*
Leukocytes*
Linear Models
Lung
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive*
Quality of Life
Respiratory Function Tests
Risk Factors
Smoke
Smoking
Vital Capacity
Smoke

Figure

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  Figure 1 Flow chart of the study population. KNHANES: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; PFT: pulmonary function test; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

• 

  Figure 2 The white blood cell (WBC) count according to the current smoking status and degree of airflow limitation. Values are presented as mean±standard deviation.

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  Figure 3 Comparison of the proportions of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) stages according to quartiles of white blood cell count.

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