Red Cell Distribution Width and the Severity of Acute Exacerbration of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - A Hospital Based Case Control Study

Abstract

Abstract Background and Objective: Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common diseases in patients with having frequent hospitalization. The aim of this study is to find whether there is any relationship between red cell distribution width (RDW) with mortality in acute exacerbation of COPD. Materials and Methods: The hospital-based case–control study is conducted on hospitalized 50 patients with the diagnosis of acute exacerbation of COPD and 50 patients with stable period of COPD. Results: This was a hospital-based case–control study in the age group of above 30 years in hospitalized 50 patients with a primary and definite diagnosis of acute exacerbation of COPD and 50 participants in stable period of COPD conducted among admitted in the department of medicine. Maximum patients in both groups were found in the >60 years age group. The mean age in acute exacerbations of COPD group was 64.62 ± 8.24 years and in stable COPD were 63.22 ± 9.18 years. Both groups were comparable. Maximum patients in both groups were male. The mean RDW significantly higher in acute exacerbation of COPD (17.60% ±5.70%) as compared to stable COPD patients (13.80% ±3.33%). The difference in both groups was found statistically significant. The mean corpuscular volume was significantly lower in acute exacerbation of COPD (82.04 ± 1.49) as compared to stable COPD patients (86.50 ± 1.87). The difference in both groups was found statistically significant. RDW was significantly higher in those patients who were died (19.50% ±0.70%) as compared to survived patients (17.52% ±5.61%). The difference in both groups was found to be statistically significant. 4.00% hospital mortality in acute exacerbation of COPD group compared with stable COPD patients. Conclusion: We have concluded that the mean RDW on the day of presenting the illness was significantly higher in acute exacerbation of COPD as compared to stable COPD. Those patients who had a high RDW during admission were associated with poor prognoses.