Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is associated with COPD readmission and mortality

Background and Objective: The blood biomarker suPAR has been associated with short-term mortality in COPD. In patients hospitalized for COPD, we hypothesized that both suPAR and blood eosinophil count are independent risk factors for both readmission and all-cause mortality. Methods: This retrospective cohort study comprised 4,022 patients admitted with COPD to Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark. All patients had plasma suPAR and blood eosinophils measured at the time of admission (November 2013 to March 2017) and were followed until June 2017. Primary outcomes were 30-, 90- and 365-day readmission and all-cause mortality. Associations between the primary outcomes and level of suPAR and eosinophils were investigated by logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, CRP values and Charlson comorbidity index. Results: The median suPAR levels were significantly higher in both COPD patients who were later readmitted or died during follow-up at all time points. Increasing suPAR levels were significantly associated with both readmission and all-cause mortality. At 365 days, the ORs for readmission and mortality reached 1.85 (1.4-2.5; p 300cells/uL demonstrating an OR of 0.42 (0.31-0.57; p Conclusions: In patients admitted with COPD, our study showed that elevated suPAR levels were associated with higher odds of both readmission and mortality, whereas COPD patients with high blood eosinophils had lower odds of all-cause mortality.