In patients not treated with inhaled corticosteroids, 3•8% patients with <2% blood eosinophil counts had a pneumonia event vs. 2•4% with 2% or more blood eosinophils (1•53; 95% CI 1•01–2•31). In patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids, events occurred in 4•5% vs. 3•9%; (HR 1•25; 95% CI 0•98–1•60), respectively. The authors note that these data should be considered when making treatment decisions, alongside existing evidence that patients with COPD and baseline blood eosinophil counts less than 2% have a poorer response to inhaled corticosteroids.