Patient characteristics of the three clusters identified in the final model
| Patient characteristics | Cluster 1 eosinophils >2.4% (N=1777) | Cluster 2 Eosinophils ≤2.4%, pack-years ≤46 (N=891) | Cluster 3 eosinophils ≤2.4%, pack-years >46 (N=587) | p Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years | 65 (58–70) | 62 (55–69) | 65 (60–71) | <0.0001 |
| Female | 693 (39.0) | 480 (53.9) | 212 (36.1) | <0.0001 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 298 (16.8) | 192 (21.5) | 94 (16.0) | 0.0041 |
| Current smoker | 714 (40.2) | 443 (49.7) | 282 (48.0) | <0.0001 |
| Number of pack-years | 40 (28–58) | 30 (20–39) | 61 (51–80) | <0.0001 |
| History of | ||||
| Cardiovascular disease | 1108 (62.4) | 519 (58.2) | 382 (65.1) | 0.0219 |
| Cardiac disorders | 306 (17.2) | 113 (12.7) | 107 (18.2) | 0.0036 |
| Coronary artery disease | 186 (10.5) | 65 (7.3) | 73 (12.4) | 0.0031 |
| Myocardial infarction | 104 (5.9) | 26 (2.9) | 35 (6.0) | 0.0027 |
| Eye disorders | 225 (12.7) | 87 (9.8) | 95 (16.2) | 0.0012 |
| Metabolism disorders | 729 (41.0) | 321 (36.0) | 244 (41.6) | 0.0277 |
| Medication use | ||||
| Antithrombotic agents | 486 (27.3) | 178 (20.0) | 167 (28.4) | <0.0001 |
| Antihypertensives | 87 (4.9) | 27 (3.0) | 35 (6.0) | 0.0195 |
| Lipid-modifying agents | 517 (29.1) | 187 (21.0) | 177 (30.2) | <0.0001 |
| Anti-inflammatory and antirheumatic products | 643 (36.2) | 242 (27.2) | 209 (35.6) | <0.0001 |
| Antihistamines for systemic use | 216 (12.2) | 73 (8.2) | 54 (9.2) | 0.0036 |
| Exacerbations treated with steroid/antibiotics in the 12 months before screening visit | ||||
| 0 | 129 (7.3) | 67 (7.5) | 54 (9.2) | 0.47 |
| 1 | 1104 (62.4) | 547 (61.4) | 341 (58.1) | . |
| 2 | 363 (20.4) | 194 (21.8) | 136 (23.2) | . |
| ≥3 | 181 (10.2) | 83 (9.3) | 56 (9.5) | . |
| Number of hospitalised exacerbations in the 12 months before screening visit | ||||
| 0 | 1428 (80.4) | 696 (78.1) | 469 (79.9) | 0.1044 |
| 1 | 291 (16.4) | 152 (17.1) | 104 (17.7) | . |
| ≥2 | 58 (3.3) | 43 (4.8) | 14 (2.4) | . |
| COPD type | ||||
| Bronchitis | 1156 (65.4) | 634 (71.2) | 366 (62.8) | 0.0012 |
| Emphysema | 1021 (57.8) | 426 (47.9) | 362 (62.1) | <0.0001 |
| Baseline WBC, GI/L | 6.90 (5.80–8.10) | 7.20 (6.10–8.60) | 7.40 (6.20–8.90) | <0.0001 |
| Baseline lymphocytes, % | 27.30 (22.30–33.00) | 25.80 (21.10–31.30) | 25.30 (19.70–30.10) | <0.0001 |
| Baseline eosinophils, GI/L | 0.28 (0.21–0.39) | 0.11 (0.07–0.14) | 0.11 (0.07–0.15) | <0.0001 |
| Baseline eosinophils, % | 4.00 (3.10–5.60) | 1.50 (1.00–2.00) | 1.50 (1.00–2.00) | <0.0001 |
| Baseline eosinophils ≥2% | 1700 (100) | 233 (26.2) | 158 (26.9) | <0.0001 |
| Baseline neutrophils, % | 61.10 (55.10–66.70) | 66.40 (60.60–71.50) | 67.10 (62.10–72.70) | <0.0001 |
| Baseline neutrophils, GI/L | 4.19 (3.37–5.11) | 4.81 (3.81–5.98) | 4.99 (3.85–6.27) | <0.0001 |
| Baseline haemoglobin, G/L | 145.0 (136.0–153.0) | 145.0 (136.0–154.0) | 147.0 (138.0–156.0) | 0.0025 |
| Baseline urea/BUN, mmol/L | 5.50 (4.50–7.00) | 5.20 (4.20–6.50) | 5.45 (4.50–6.50) | 0.0024 |
| Lung function at screening | ||||
| Pre-bronchodilator FEV1, L | 1.10 (0.81–1.41) | 1.12 (0.81–1.42) | 1.02 (0.75–1.40) | 0.0457 |
| Pre-bronchodilator % predicted FEV1 | 39.90 (30.00–50.00) | 41.70 (31.10–51.60) | 38.00 (28.20–50.30) | 0.0015 |
| Post-bronchodilator FEV1, L | 1.24 (0.96–1.57) | 1.22 (0.94–1.55) | 1.17 (0.89–1.57) | 0.0603 |
| Post-bronchodilator % predicted FEV1 | 45.70 (35.45–56.00) | 46.50 (36.50–56.70) | 44.00 (32.60–54.95) | 0.0160 |
| Post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC | 45.10 (36.80–53.90) | 46.80 (37.80–55.40) | 43.20 (35.35–52.50) | 0.0002 |
| Reversibility at screening | ||||
| Reversibility, % | 13.00 (5.10–23.20) | 10.80 (3.20–19.40) | 12.70 (5.20–22.70) | <0.0001 |
| Reversibility, mL | 140.00 (50.00–230.0) | 120.00 (30.00–200.0) | 130.00 (50.00–220.0) | <0.0001 |
| Reversibility subgroup (≥12% and ≥200 mL increase) | 578 (33.0) | 224 (25.5) | 170 (29.2) | 0.0004 |
| Lung function at baseline | ||||
| Post-bronchodilator FEV1, L | 1.17 (0.86–1.53) | 1.17 (0.88–1.49) | 1.10 (0.82–1.48) | 0.0222 |
| Post-bronchodilator % predicted FEV1 | 42.70 (32.00–53.95) | 44.10 (33.50–53.80) | 41.20 (29.85–52.65) | 0.0075 |
Data are n (%) or median (IQR) unless otherwise stated. Data presented include characteristics statistically significantly different (p<0.05) between clusters or imbalanced by treatment (p<0.05) within clusters (see online supplementary table S1).
BUN, blood urea nitrogen; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FVC, forced vital capacity; WBC, white cell count.