Biomarkers · Hematology

Eosinophil Count

Lower values go with lower risk of death. In NHANES 1999–2018 with linked mortality to 2019, each standard deviation above average goes with 4% higher risk of death. We found the same pattern in NHANES

Eosinophil Count and risk of death

NHANES, our fit with 95% CIPublished curve

Published curve higher than the NHANES fitNHANES fit higher

Risk of death relative to each curve's own reference value, so the two curves need not cross 1 at the same point. The dotted vertical line marks the NHANES median.

Risk of death per SD (NHANES)1.04×95% CI 1.02–1.06 · 48,954 adults, 7,151 deaths

Published risk of death2.20×severe eosinophilia (>5000 cells/uL) vs matched subjects with normal eosinophil counts… (95% CI 1.84–2.62) · Clalit Health Services (Israel) 2000-2023 population-based matched cohort; adults n=29,289 (2,497 with SE, 26,792 matched controls)

Value of the measurement+0.002gain in concordance within age bands; rank 54 of 56 · all tests

Eosinophil Count by age and sex

Each bar runs from the 5th to the 95th percentile, the darker part from the 25th to the 75th, and the tick is the median. Not a reference range or a target.

The percentiles as a table

Each row is one sex and age band: the values below which 5%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 95% of people fall (10^3 cells/uL), from the survey named in the row. Not a reference range or a target.
Sex	Age	5th	25th	Median	75th	95th	n	Cycle / source
All	20-39	0.00	0.10	0.20	0.20	0.50	1,456	NHANES 2017-2018
All	40-59	0.00	0.10	0.20	0.20	0.50	1,582	NHANES 2017-2018
All	60+	0.10	0.10	0.20	0.30	0.50	1,939	NHANES 2017-2018
All	all	0.00	0.10	0.20	0.20	0.50	4,977	NHANES 2017-2018
Men	20-39	0.10	0.10	0.20	0.20	0.50	698	NHANES 2017-2018
Men	40-59	0.00	0.10	0.20	0.20	0.50	740	NHANES 2017-2018
Men	60+	0.10	0.10	0.20	0.30	0.60	981	NHANES 2017-2018
Men	all	0.00	0.10	0.20	0.30	0.50	2,419	NHANES 2017-2018
Women	20-39	0.00	0.10	0.10	0.20	0.40	758	NHANES 2017-2018
Women	40-59	0.00	0.10	0.20	0.20	0.50	842	NHANES 2017-2018
Women	60+	0.10	0.10	0.20	0.20	0.50	958	NHANES 2017-2018
Women	all	0.00	0.10	0.20	0.20	0.50	2,558	NHANES 2017-2018

What studies found when this marker was changed

They describe what happened in those study groups, not a recommendation. See all catalogued interventions.

Measured changes in Eosinophil Count, study by study

4 effects with a numeric size, each from one study arm: the dot is the reported change, the line its 95% interval where one was given. Green points move the marker the way lower risk of death lies; amber the other way. Study results in the groups studied, not predictions for a person.

Each row is one study: what was changed, the effect it reported on this marker, and the source.
Type	Intervention	Reported effect	Evidence	Source
pharmacologic	Oral rupatadine for 4 weeks in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria (randomised against levocetirizine)	Absolute eosinophil count fell 35.6% from baseline to day 28 in the rupatadine arm (n=35)	RCT	Maiti R, et al. J Drugs Dermatol. 2011;10(12):1444-1450.
supplement	Vitamin D supplementation (800 to 400,000 IU, 6 weeks to 12 months) vs placebo in children and adults with asthma	Blood eosinophils changed -0.02 x10^3/uL (95% CI -0.11 to 0.07) vs placebo, not significant; duration not stated for the pooled result (trials ran 6 weeks to 12 months); 4 RCTs	meta-analysis	El Abd A, et al. Front Immunol. 2024;15:1335968.

Things that worsen it

Each row is one study: what was changed, the effect it reported on this marker, and the source.
Type	Condition or exposure	Reported effect	Evidence	Source
pharmacologic	Benralizumab 30 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks for 52 weeks in adults with relapsing or refractory eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (MANDARA)	Mean blood eosinophils fell from 306.0 to 32.4 per microliter at week 52 with benralizumab	RCT	Wechsler ME, Nair P, Terrier B, et al. Benralizumab versus Mepolizumab for…

Sources

Risk curve: Nemet S 2026 (PMID 41809114): all-cause HR 2.2 (1.84-2.62) severe eosinophilia (>5000 cells/uL) vs matched subjects with normal eosinophil counts (<500/uL), adults, 5-year risk. Scaled to US values (NHANES).
Nemet S, Elbirt D, Cohen R, Mahlab-Guri K, Zemer VS, Asher I, et al. Severe eosinophilia and risk of major disease and mortality: A nationwide cohort study of children and adults. J Allergy Clin Immunol Glob. 2026;5(3):100654.
NHANES curve: our Cox model adjusted for age and sex, NHANES 1999–2018 with linked mortality to 2019.

Map Eosinophil Count against another biomarker.

Map Eosinophil Count against another marker