Red Cell Distribution Width Tertile Research Articles

Red Cell Distribution Width and Patient Outcome in Cardiovascular Disease: A ''Real-World'' Analysis.

Red cell distribution width (RDW) has been shown to predict adverse outcomes in specific scenarios. We aimed to assess the association between RDW and all-cause death and a clinically relevant composite endpoint in a population with various clinical manifestations of cardiovascular diseases. We retrospectively analyzed 700 patients (median age 72.7 years [interquartile range, IQR, 62.6–80]) admitted to the Cardiology ward between January and November 2016. Patients were divided into tertiles according to baseline RDW values. After a median follow-up of 3.78 years (IQR 3.38–4.03), 153 (21.9%) patients died and 247 (35.3%) developed a composite endpoint (all-cause death, acute coronary syndromes, transient ischemic attack/stroke, and/or thromboembolic events). With multivariate Cox regression analysis, the highest RDW tertile was independently associated with an increased risk of all-cause death (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 2.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.63–4.56) and of the composite endpoint (adjusted HR 2.23, 95% CI 1.53–3.24). RDW showed a good predictive ability for all-cause death (C-statistics: 0.741, 95% CI 0.694–0.788). In a real-world cohort of patients, we found that higher RDW values were independently associated with an increased risk of all-cause death and clinical adverse cardiovascular events thus proposing RDW as a prognostic marker in cardiovascular patients.

Red blood cell distribution width in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Implications for outcomes.

Red cell distribution width (RDW) is recently emerging as a prognostic indicator in many cardiovascular diseases. However, less is known about its predictive role in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). We retrospectively included very high-risk patients with severe aortic valve stenosis undergoing TAVI between February 2012 and December 2019. Patients were classified according to RDW tertiles. Our primary endpoint was long-term all-cause mortality. The secondary endpoint was a composite of in-hospital major adverse events as defined by the Valve Academic Research Consortium 2 criteria and/or long-term all-cause mortality. A total of 424 patients [median age 83.5years, 52.6% females] were analysed. After a median follow-up of 1.55years, all-cause mortality was 25.5%. At the multivariate-adjusted Cox regression analysis, patients in the highest RDW tertile were associated with a higher risk for all-cause mortality [hazard ratio [HR] 1.73, 95%confidence interval [CI] 1.02-2.95] compared with the lowest tertile. When considering RDW as a continuous variable, we found an 11% increased risk in overall mortality [HR 1.11, 95% CI 1.00-1.24] for each increased point in RDW. The highest RDW tertile was also independently associated with the occurrence of the composite endpoint [odds ratio [OR] 2.10, 95% CI 1.17-3.76] compared with lower tertiles. In our cohort, elevated basal RDW values were independent predictors of increased long-term mortality and higher rate of in-hospital adverse events. The inclusion of a routinely available biomarker as RDW, may help the pre-operative risk assessment in potential TAVI candidates and optimise their management.

Red Cell Distribution Width to Assess Heart Failure Post Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation

<h3>Purpose</h3> In patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), generalized bone marrow dysfunction affects multiple hematopoietic cell lines. Red cell distribution width (RDW) has been previously identified as prognostic marker in CHF. However, RDW has not been systematically investigated in patients requiring left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy. We investigated the impact of RDW on all-cause mortality in this population over a 24-month period post LVAD implantation. <h3>Methods</h3> At a single center, 177 patients received LVAD therapy between June 2011 and October 2018. Patients were divided into three tertiles: RDW <14.4%, 14.1-16.7%, and >16.7%. No patients were excluded. A Kaplan-Meir plot and log-rank statistics were used to compare survival across patient groups. The association between RDW and 24-month all-cause mortality was examined via unadjusted and adjusted cox regression models. <h3>Results</h3> 24-month survival was equal across RDW tertiles (Log-Rank p=0.22). On Cox-modelling, there was no difference in survival seen on either the unadjusted survival [HR= 1.01 (0.94 - 1.09) (p=0.69)] and adjusted survival [1.03 (0.95-1.11) (p=0.47)] when age, race, gender, INTERMACS category, and preoperative RBC mass were adjusted for. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Increased RDW did not correlate with worse survival at 24 months post LVAD placement. As a marker of the variation in circulating red blood cell volume, this lack of association may be due to persistent volume overload in a CHF state.

The role of elevated red blood cell distribution width in the prognosis of AECOPD patients: A retrospective study.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is still a constant threat to people's health. We aimed to identify the relationship between increased red cell distribution width (RDW) on admission and length of hospitalization in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients (AECOPD).Patients with AECOPD were recruited and divided into 3 groups based on RDW tertiles.Two hundred eighty six patients with AECOPD admitted to our department during January 1, 2017 and June 30, 2019 were enrolled in the study. According to the RDW tertiles (≤12.8%, 12.9% to 13.6%, >13.6%), the patients were divided into 3 groups. Length of stay was significantly related to RDW (P < .001) in AECOPD patients. Correlation analysis indicated that RDW was negatively associated with FEV1% predicted (r = −0.142, P = .016). However, RDW was positively associated with prolonged of stay (r = 0.298, P < .001) in AECOPD patients. Multivariate regression analysis discovered that RDW was independently associated with the length of hospitalization (P = .001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that RDW was a good predictor of prolonged hospital stay in AECOPD patients, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.818 (95% CI: 0.769–0.868). The highest sensitivity to predict prolonged hospital stay was 83.8% and the specificity was 71.6% with the cut-off 13.35%.In conclusion, prolonged hospital stay in AECOPD patients was closely associated with increased RDW. Elevated RDW may be an independent predictor for prolonged hospitalization in AECOPD patients.

A single preoperative blood test predicts postoperative sepsis and pneumonia after coronary bypass or open aneurysm surgery.

Major surgery comes with a high risk for postoperative inflammatory complications. Preoperative risk scores predict mortality risk but fail to identify patients at risk for complications following cardiovascular surgery. We therefore assessed the value of preoperative red cell distribution width (RDW) as a predictor for pneumonia and sepsis after cardiovascular surgery and studied the relation of RDW with hematopoietic tissue activity. RDW is an easily accessible, yet seldomly used parameter from routine haematology measurements. RDW was extracted from the Utrecht Patient Orientated Database (UPOD) for preoperative measurements in patients undergoing open abdominal aortic anuerysm repair (AAA)(N=136) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)(N=2193). The cohorts were stratified in tertiles to assess effects over the different groups. Generalized Linear Models were used to determine associations between RDW and postoperative inflammatory complications. Hematopoietic tissue activity was scored using fluor-18-(18F)-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography and associated with RDW using linear regression models. In total, 43(31.6%) and 73 patients (3.3%) suffered from inflammatory complications after AAA-repair or CABG, respectively; the majority being pneumonia in both cohorts. Postoperative inflammatory outcome incidence increased from 19.6% in the lowest to 48.9% in the highest RDW tertile with a corresponding risk ratio (RR) of 2.35 ([95%CI:1.08-5.14] P=0.032) in AAA patients. In the CABG cohort, the incidence of postoperative inflammatory outcomes increased from 1.8% to 5.3% with an adjusted RR of 1.95 ([95%CI:1.02-3.75] P=0.044) for the highest RDW tertile compared with the lowest RDW tertile. FDG-PET scans showed associations of RDW with tissue activity in the spleen (B=0.517 [P=0.001]) and the lumbar bone marrow (B=0.480 [P=0.004]). Elevated RDW associates with increased risk for postoperative inflammatory complications and hematopoietic tissue activity. RDW likely reflects chronic low-grade inflammation and should be considered to identify patients at risk for postoperative inflammatory complications following cardiovascular surgery.

Prognostic value of red blood cell distribution width in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction: Insights from the COMMIT-HF registry.

Previous studies have reported that in patients with heart failure, an increased value of red cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with adverse outcomes. Nonetheless, data regarding the association between RDW values and long-term mortality in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) are lacking. The aim of this investigation was to examine the relationship between mortality and RDW in patients with ischemic and non-ischemic LVSD. Under analysis was 1734 patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 35% of whom were hospitalized between 2009 and 2013. Patients were divided into three groups based on RDW tertiles. Low, medium and high tertiles were defined as RDW ≤ 13.4%, 13.4% < RDW ≤ 14.6% and RDW > 14.6%, respectively. There was a stepwise relationship between RDW intervals and comorbidities. Patients with the highest RDW values were older and more often diagnosed with anemia, diabetes, atrial fibrillation and chronic kidney disease. The main finding of our analysis was the presence of an 8-fold increase in all-cause mortality in the entire cohort between high and low RDW tertile. Cox hazard analysis identi-fied RDW as an independent predictive factor of mortality in all patients (HR 2.8; 95% CI 2.1-3.8; p < 0.0001) and in subgroups of patients with ischemic (HR 2.8; 95% CI 2.0-3.9; p < 0.0001) and non-ischemic (HR 3.3; 95% CI 2.01-5.5; p < 0.0001) LVSD. The highest RDW tertile was independently associated with higher long-term mortality compared with low and medium tertiles, both in all patients with a LVEF ≤ 35% and in subgroups of patients with ischemic and non-ischemic LVSD.

Red Blood Cell Distribution Width Is Associated with Carotid Atherosclerosis in People with Type 2 Diabetes.

Aims Red cell distribution width (RDW) has been shown to be associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The relationship between RDW and carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT), a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, has been inconsistent in subjects with cardiovascular risk factors. In this study, we investigated the relationship between RDW and carotid atherosclerosis in people with type 2 diabetes. Methods Four hundred sixty-nine people with type 2 diabetes without history of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases were enrolled. Anthropometric measures and various biochemical parameters including RDW were assessed. Ultrasonographic measurement of carotid intima-media thickness was used to evaluate subclinical atherosclerosis. Results The participants were stratified into 3 groups according to RDW. The C-IMT increased gradually according to RDW tertiles (lowest, second, highest RDW tertiles; 0.740 ± 0.120, 0.772 ± 0.138, and 0.795 ± 0.139, respectively; p < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that RDW was associated with C-IMT in people with type 2 diabetes, and it remained significant after control for various cardiovascular risk factors including body mass index, blood pressure, insulin resistance, and smoking status in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusion RDW is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis assessed by carotid IMT after control of various covariates in people with type 2 diabetes without cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases.

Red cell distribution width predicts death and appropriate therapy in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator: A simple measurement with prognostic value in a variety of diseases, may help in better selection of patients who will benefit the most from this device.

Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a measure of the size variation of erythrocytes. Its prognostic value has been described in a variety of cardiac and noncardiac diseases. Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is useful in preventing sudden cardiac death in high-risk patients, but many of these patients continue to survive without needing ICD therapy. We sought to examine whether RDW, with its prognostic values, can benefit in risk stratification of patients with ICD by predicting death and ICD therapy, and thus help in the selection of patients who will benefit the most from ICD, and minimizing its implantation in others at low risk of death and arrhythmias. In a retrospective study, we enrolled patients with ICD implanted for both primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death. Baseline RDW values, demographics, and clinical characteristics, as well as the occurrence of death or first appropriate ICD therapy in postimplantation follow-up were collected. We examined whether RDW can predict higher-risk ICD-implanted patients prone to death and first appropriate ICD therapy (the combined outcome). Final population included 432 patients. Compared to others, patients in the upper RDW tertile were older and had more comorbidities and outcomes. In multivariate analysis including RDW, age, gender, and ejection fraction, RDW was the only predictor of the combined outcome. RDW may be useful in risk stratification of patients selected for ICD implantation. But larger prospective randomized trials are needed.

Association of Anisocytosis with Markers of Immune Activation and Exhaustion in Treated HIV

Background:Treated HIV infection is associated with heightened inflammation which can contribute to increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We have previously shown that anisocytosis, as measured by red cell distribution width (RDW), is independently associated with prevalent CVD in people living with HIV (PLHIV). In this study, we sought to identify immune correlates of RDW in PLHIV receiving antiretroviral therapy.Methods:We performed a cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of 147 virally-suppressed PLHIV, who had LDL < 130 mg/dL and evidence of heightened inflammation, in a randomized trial of statin therapy. A complete blood count and biomarkers of inflammation and immune activation/exhaustion were measured in peripheral blood at entry and after 24 and 48 weeks. Associations with RDW were estimated using linear regression and linear mixed models.Results:The median age (IQR) for the cohort at enrollment was 46 (40–53) years; 78% were male and 68% were African American. The median RDW for the cohort was 13.4% (12.9–14.0). Compared with the lowest RDW tertile, patients in the highest tertile were less likely to be male, and more likely to be African American, have lower hemoglobin, lower mean corpuscular volume, and higher platelet counts (all P < 0.05). At baseline, RDW weakly correlated with C-reactive protein (r = 0.196), d-dimer (r = 0.214), fibrinogen (r = 0.192), IL-6 (r = 0.257), CD4+DR+38+ T cells (r = 0.195), and CD4+PD1+ T cells (r = 0.227), all P < 0.05. Only IL-6, CD4+38+DR+ T cells, and CD4+PD1+ T_cells remained associated after adjustment for clinical factors known to affect RDW in the general population. Over 48 weeks, RDW did not change and there was no significant effect of statin (P = 0.45). After adjustment for clinical parameters, RDW remained positively associated with CD4+38+DR+ and CD4+PD1+ T cells across all time points (P = 0.05).Conclusion:In this population of treated HIV+ subjects, anisocytosis was associated with bio-markers of inflammation and T-cell activation/exhaustion over time and independent of clinical confounders. Therefore, RDW may be a useful prognostic biomarker of cardiovascular risk that partially reflects chronic inflammation and immune exhaustion in PLHIV receiving antiretroviral therapy.

Association between red cell distribution width and acute pancreatitis: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveWe investigated whether red cell distribution width (RDW) was associated with mortality in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP).DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingPatients with AP were recruited in the emergency department and healthy...

Red Cell Distribution Width as an Independent Predictor of Exercise Intolerance and Ventilatory Inefficiency in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

PurposePeak oxygen uptake (peak VO2) and ventilatory inefficiency (VE/VCO2 slope) have proven to be strong prognostic markers in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Recently increased red cell distribution width (RDW) has emerged as an additional predictor of poor outcome in CHF. We sought to evaluate the relationship between RDW and cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) parameters in CHF patients and healthy controls.Materials and Methods85 ambulatory CHF patients (68 men, 54±10 years) and 107 healthy controls, who underwent a symptom-limited CPET on a treadmill according to the modified Bruce ramp protocol, were enrolled. CHF patients and healthy controls were divided into RDW tertile groups and laboratory, echocardiographic, and CPET results were analyzed.ResultsFor patients with CHF, compared with patients in the lowest RDW tertile, those in the highest tertile had lower peak VO2 (22 mL/kg/min vs. 28 mL/kg/min, p<0.001) and higher VE/VCO2 slope (31 vs. 25, p=0.004). Multivariate regression analysis revealed RDW to be an independent predictor for peak VO2 (β=-0.247, p=0.035) and VE/VCO2 slope (β=0.366, p=0.004). The optimal cutoff value of RDW for predicting peak VO2 ≤20 mL/kg/min and VE/VCO2 slope ≥34 was 13.6% (sensitivity 53%, specificity 89%) and 13.4% (sensitivity 75%, specificity 82%), respectively. In contrast, for healthy controls, RDW was not related to both peak VO2 and VE/VCO2 slope.ConclusionHigher RDW is independently related to peak VO2 and VE/VCO2 slope only in patients with CHF. RDW assessment, an inexpensive and simple method, might help predict functional capacity and ventilatory efficiency in these patients.

Heart rate variability and red cell distribution width in patients with systolic left heart failure

Objective. Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a strong prognostic marker for systolic left heart failure regardless of the anemia status, and heart rate variability (HRV) is negatively associated with mortality and sudden cardiac death in patients with systolic left heart failure. Their relationship has not been investigated in the previous literature. Design. One hundred eighty four patients who had been previously diagnosed with systolic left heart failure (with ischemic or non-ischemic etiology) were retrospectively enrolled in our study. Patients underwent 24-h electrocardiographic monitoring, and blood samples for RDW and other variables were analyzed. Study population was grouped into tertiles of RDW (Tertile 1: 13.4 ± 1.4%, Tertile 2: 14.6 ± 1.4%, and Tertile 3: 17.1 ± 1.2%). Results. Most of the characteristics of patients were similar among RDW tertiles. Standard deviation of all normal RR intervals (SDNN), standard deviation of the averages of RR intervals in all 5-min segments (SDANN) and root-mean square of difference of successive RR intervals (RMSSD) values significantly differed among groups (p < 0.001). The highest RDW tertile had the lowest HRV values, and Pearson correlation analysis yielded a negative correlation between HRV parameters and RDW (for SDNN, SDANN, RMSSD; r = 0.373, 0.340, 0.362, respectively, p < 0.001 for all). In stepwise multivariate analysis HRV was independently associated with RDW. Conclusions. The HRV parameters were independently associated with RDW in patients with systolic left heart failure.

Red cell distribution width as a novel predictor of mortality in ICU patients

Background. The red cell distribution width (RDW) in ICU patients has never been investigated. Methods. A total of 602 consecutive patients were prospectively enrolled. We collected each patient's base-line characteristics including the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE-II) score, RDW, and C-reactive protein (CRP). The primary outcome for this analysis was ICU mortality, and secondary outcome was the total length of stay in hospital (TLSH). Potential predictors were analyzed for possible association with outcomes. Results. There was a significantly graded increase in APACHE-II score (tertile I = 10.7 ± 6.5 versus tertile II = 13.3 ± 6.2 versus tertile III = 15.8 ± 7.2; all P < 0.001) and ICU mortality rate (tertile I = 11.2% versus tertile II = 18.8% versus tertile III = 33.8%; all P < 0.001) across increasing of RDW tertile. As compared with APACHE-II score, combination of RDW and APACHE-II score increased the area under the curve (AUC) for predicting ICU mortality from 0.832 ± 0.020 to 0.885 ± 0.017 (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that RDW, APACHE-II score, and CRP were independent predictors of ICU mortality (P < 0.05). RDW was also independently associated with TLSH in patients alive (P < 0.05). Conclusion. We found a graded independent relation between higher RDW and adverse outcomes in ICU patients. RDW has the potentially clinical utility to predict outcome in ICU patients.