Dataset Information

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

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.

SUBMITTER: Koo HK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5526959 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundThe contribution of measurable immunological and inflammatory parameters to lung cancer development remains unclear, particularly among never smokers. We investigated the relationship between total and differential white blood cell (WBC) counts and incident lung cancer risk overall and among subgroups defined by smoking status and sex in the United Kingdom (UK).MethodsWe evaluated 424 407 adults aged 37-73?years from the UK Biobank. Questionnaires, physical measurements, and blood were administered and collected at baseline in 2006-2010. Complete blood cell counts were measured using standard methods. Lung cancer diagnoses and histological classifications were obtained from cancer registries. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals of incident lung cancer in relation to quartiles (Q) of total WBC and subtype-specific counts, with Q1 as the reference.ResultsThere were 1493 incident cases diagnosed over an average 7-year follow-up. Overall, the highest quartile of total WBC count was statistically significantly associated with elevated lung cancer risk (HRQ4 = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.41 to 1.98). Among women, increased risks were found in current smokers (n cases / n?=?244 / 19?464, HRQ4 = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.46 to 3.16), former smokers (n cases / n?=?280 / 69?198, HRQ4 = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.24 to 2.47), and never smokers without environmental tobacco smoke exposure (ncases / n?=?108 / 111?294, HRQ4 = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.11 to 3.35). Among men, stronger associations were identified in current smokers (ncase s / n?=?329 / 22?934, HRQ4 = 2.95, 95% CI = 2.04 to 4.26) and former smokers (nc ases / n?=?358/71?616, HRQ4 = 2.38, 95% CI = 1.74 to 3.27) but not in never smokers. Findings were similar for lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma and were driven primarily by elevated neutrophil fractions.ConclusionsElevated WBCs could potentially be one of many important markers for increased lung cancer risk, especially among never-smoking women and ever-smoking men.