Type 2 inflammation (Th2i) – indicated by blood eosinophil counts – and airway-occluding mucus plugs (MPs) on computed tomography (CT) are frequent phenotypes in people with COPD [1–4]. Furthermore, the Th2i pathway involves type 2 helper T cells and epithelial-derived cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-33 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), that drive a cascade of events, including eosinophil mobilisation and activation in the airways [5]. A persistent Th2i milieu leads to airway structural changes, such as mucus gland hypertrophy, ensuing mucus hypersecretion and plug formation [5, 6]. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that high blood eosinophils are associated with airway MPs. We also sought to determine the association of those phenotypes with functional and clinical measures of COPD.