Characteristics of children with asthma and blood eosinophilia: an observational study

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Blood eosinophilia is associated with asthma severity. <b>Objective:</b> To study the characteristics of children with asthma and blood eosinophilia. <b>Methods:</b> This retrospective cohort study included children with asthma (aged 5 to 14 years). The details were collected in a pre-designed Performa. Multivariate analyses were done to identify characteristics associated with asthma and blood eosinophilia. The diagnostic accuracies of the laboratory parameters (sensitivity, specificity and predictive values) were calculated. <b>Results:</b> Of 176 subjects included, blood eosinophilia was noted in 47.8%. Following factors were associated with this characteristic: age &gt;8 years (OR 2.34), a total serum level of IgE ≥300 UI/mL (OR 1.98), and an Asthma Control Test (ACT) score &lt;20 points (OR 2.15). Those with asthma and blood eosinophilia had a baseline FEV1/FVC &lt;70% (OR 1.78). Age &gt;8 years and ACT score &lt;20 showed the highest sensitivity (&gt; 80% each), and total serum IgE level ≥300 UI/mL had the highest specificity (around 70%). Those with an ACT score &lt;20 had the highest AUC (69%). <b>Conclusions:</b> In the present study, nearly half of the asthmatic children had blood eosinophilia. The prevalence was greater in those &gt;8 years.