The importance of red cell distribution width (RDW) in patient follow up in intensive care unit (ICU)

Abstract

Objective: In this study we aimed to determine the effect of RDW on mortality by comparing the temporal changes in RDW level in deceased and surviving ICU patients. Materials and method: This study was retrospectively conducted in 776 patients admitted to intensive care unit between 01.01.2013 and 31.12.2013. Age, sex, clinical diagnosis, comorbid conditions, RDW levels at intensive care admission and discharge, duration of intensive care stay, and mortality rate were evaluated. Kolmogorov Smirnov, student t-test, Mann Whithey u test, and Chi-square test were used for data analysis. The results were provided at a confidence interval of 95% and a significance level of p < 0. 05. Results: Conducted on 776 patients in Ankara Numune Hospital's general intensive care clinic 3, this study revealed a mortality rate of 38.2%. The mean age of the study population was 65.4±18.3 years, with the deceased patients having a greater mean age (p < 0.05). Four hundred and thirteen (53.2%) patients were male, and there was no significant difference between the ratios of both genders (p > 0.05). The deceased patients had significantly increasing RDW levels whereas the surviving patients had significantly reducing RDW levels (p < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between the magnitude of RDW increment and duration of hospital stay in the deceased patients (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that RDW, with known association with mortality, can be used as a simple marker for patient follow-up and monitorization of effectiveness of the administered therapies in ICU.