Exacerbation history and blood eosinophil count prior to diagnosis of COPD and risk of subsequent exacerbations.

Background: Prior exacerbation history is used to guide initial maintenance therapy in COPD; however, the recommendations were derived from patients already diagnosed and treated.

Methods: We assessed the rates of moderate ( treated with antibiotics and/or systemic corticosteroids) and severe ( hospitalised) exacerbations in the year following diagnosis in patients newly diagnosed with COPD according to their prior history of exacerbations, blood eosinophil count (BEC) and whether maintenance therapy was started. Data were extracted from the Optimum Patient Care Research Database.