Low eosinophils and their dynamic as a predictor of death in patients with infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies

Background Eosinophils prognostic significance in predicting mortality has become particularly notable during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of peripheral low eosinophil (eosinopenia) with focus on their dynamics (eosinophil recovery) in patients with infections.Met...

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Main Authors: Larisa Pinte, Andra-Cristiana Dumitru, Andreea-Codruta Usurelu, Cristian-Mihail Niculae, Anamaria Draghici, Marius Alexandru Cotet, Cristian Baicus
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Annals of Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2025.2541084
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author Larisa Pinte
Andra-Cristiana Dumitru
Andreea-Codruta Usurelu
Cristian-Mihail Niculae
Anamaria Draghici
Marius Alexandru Cotet
Cristian Baicus
author_facet Larisa Pinte
Andra-Cristiana Dumitru
Andreea-Codruta Usurelu
Cristian-Mihail Niculae
Anamaria Draghici
Marius Alexandru Cotet
Cristian Baicus
author_sort Larisa Pinte
collection DOAJ
description Background Eosinophils prognostic significance in predicting mortality has become particularly notable during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of peripheral low eosinophil (eosinopenia) with focus on their dynamics (eosinophil recovery) in patients with infections.Methods We searched databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library) and additional sources from inception to 1 December 2023. Cohort studies involving adult patients hospitalized with infections were evaluated using dual-reviewer methodology.Results Out of 15,066 screened papers, 151 studies met the inclusion criteria, with 107 focused on COVID-19, 14 on sepsis, 9 on Clostridioides difficile, 6 on acute COPD exacerbations, and 17 on other infections. The majority of studies reported significantly lower admission eosinophil levels in non-survivors compared to survivors. Random-effects model meta-analysis showed mean eosinophil difference between deceased and survivors −15.31 (95% CI: −18.72 to −11.90) for COVID-19 and −44.6 (95% CI: −95.62 to 6.41) for sepsis (I2 > 90%). Mortality with eosinopenia showed low certainty of evidence for C. difficile (0 cells/mm³ cut-off: RR 2.35; 95% CI: 1.84–2.99) and very low for COVID-19 when considering different cut-offs (0 cells/mm³: RR 2.37; 95% CI: 1.86–3.01; 20 cells/mm³: RR 2.90; 95% CI: 1.59–5.28; 50 cells/mm³: RR 2.70; 95% CI: 1.33–5.49). Survivors generally showed an increase in eosinophil counts within the first 2–5 days of hospitalization, while the deceased had persistently low levels.Conclusions Eosinopenia, particularly the trajectory of eosinophil recovery, may serve as a cost-effective and accessible prognostic marker for mortality in patients with infections.
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spelling doaj-art-6a69efdebf5b421ea2a2de08b1ce7b882025-08-20T03:40:58ZengTaylor & Francis GroupAnnals of Medicine0785-38901365-20602025-12-0157110.1080/07853890.2025.2541084Low eosinophils and their dynamic as a predictor of death in patients with infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studiesLarisa Pinte0Andra-Cristiana Dumitru1Andreea-Codruta Usurelu2Cristian-Mihail Niculae3Anamaria Draghici4Marius Alexandru Cotet5Cristian Baicus6University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Internal Medicine, Colentina Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Colentina Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, RomaniaUniversity of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, Bucharest, RomaniaUniversity of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, Bucharest, RomaniaUniversity of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, Bucharest, RomaniaUniversity of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, Bucharest, RomaniaBackground Eosinophils prognostic significance in predicting mortality has become particularly notable during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of peripheral low eosinophil (eosinopenia) with focus on their dynamics (eosinophil recovery) in patients with infections.Methods We searched databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library) and additional sources from inception to 1 December 2023. Cohort studies involving adult patients hospitalized with infections were evaluated using dual-reviewer methodology.Results Out of 15,066 screened papers, 151 studies met the inclusion criteria, with 107 focused on COVID-19, 14 on sepsis, 9 on Clostridioides difficile, 6 on acute COPD exacerbations, and 17 on other infections. The majority of studies reported significantly lower admission eosinophil levels in non-survivors compared to survivors. Random-effects model meta-analysis showed mean eosinophil difference between deceased and survivors −15.31 (95% CI: −18.72 to −11.90) for COVID-19 and −44.6 (95% CI: −95.62 to 6.41) for sepsis (I2 > 90%). Mortality with eosinopenia showed low certainty of evidence for C. difficile (0 cells/mm³ cut-off: RR 2.35; 95% CI: 1.84–2.99) and very low for COVID-19 when considering different cut-offs (0 cells/mm³: RR 2.37; 95% CI: 1.86–3.01; 20 cells/mm³: RR 2.90; 95% CI: 1.59–5.28; 50 cells/mm³: RR 2.70; 95% CI: 1.33–5.49). Survivors generally showed an increase in eosinophil counts within the first 2–5 days of hospitalization, while the deceased had persistently low levels.Conclusions Eosinopenia, particularly the trajectory of eosinophil recovery, may serve as a cost-effective and accessible prognostic marker for mortality in patients with infections.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2025.2541084Clostridioides difficileCOVID-19dynamiceosinophileosinopeniainfection
spellingShingle Larisa Pinte
Andra-Cristiana Dumitru
Andreea-Codruta Usurelu
Cristian-Mihail Niculae
Anamaria Draghici
Marius Alexandru Cotet
Cristian Baicus
Low eosinophils and their dynamic as a predictor of death in patients with infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies
Annals of Medicine
Clostridioides difficile
COVID-19
dynamic
eosinophil
eosinopenia
infection
title Low eosinophils and their dynamic as a predictor of death in patients with infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies
title_full Low eosinophils and their dynamic as a predictor of death in patients with infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies
title_fullStr Low eosinophils and their dynamic as a predictor of death in patients with infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies
title_full_unstemmed Low eosinophils and their dynamic as a predictor of death in patients with infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies
title_short Low eosinophils and their dynamic as a predictor of death in patients with infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies
title_sort low eosinophils and their dynamic as a predictor of death in patients with infections a systematic review and meta analysis of cohort studies
topic Clostridioides difficile
COVID-19
dynamic
eosinophil
eosinopenia
infection
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2025.2541084
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