Red cell distribution width is a predictor of ST resolution and clinical outcome following thrombolysis in acute ST elevation myocardial infarction

Red blood cell distribution width and mortality risk in critically ill cardiovascular patients

Background

The association between red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and mortality risk in critically ill cardiovascular patients has not been well studied.

Objective

To examine the association between RDW and 30-day all-cause and cause-specific mortality in critically ill cardiovascular patients.

Methods

This cohort study included 47,266 patients from the eICU database. RDW was categorized as <13.0 %, 13.0-13.4 %, 13.5-13.9 %, 14.0-14.4 %, 14.5-14.9 %, ≥15.0 %. Logistic regression model was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs), and log-linear regression model was used to examine absolute rate differences (RDs) in mortality risk. Cubic spline curve was used to explore the nonlinear association between changes in RDW and mortality.

Results

A graded association between higher RDW and incremental risk of death was observed. Compared with RDW of <13.0 %, the adjusted odds ratios for all-cause mortality were 1.29 (95 % CI, 1.10 to 1.53) for RDW of 13.5-13.9 %, 1.57 (95 % CI, 1.33 to 1.85) for RDW of 14.0-14.4 %, 1.94 (95 % CI, 1.64 to 2.29) for RDW of 14.5-15.0 %, and 3.15 (95 % CI, 2.74 to 3.63) for RDW of ≥15.0 %. The absolute rate differences for RDW of 13.5-13.9 %, 14.0-14.4 %, 14.5-14.9 %, and ≥15.0 % indicated an additional 6, 13, 14, and 40 deaths per 1000 patients, respectively. RDW was associated with most, but not all, cause-specific deaths.

Conclusion

RDW was strongly associated with all-cause mortality and most cause-specific mortality in critically ill cardiovascular patients. These findings underscore the importance of this readily available hematologic indicator in mortality risk stratification.

A close-up view of dynamic biomarkers in the setting of COVID-19: Striking focus on cardiovascular system

Based on the recent reports, cardiovascular events encompass a large portion of the mortality caused by the COVID‐19 pandemic, which drawn cardiologists into the management of the admitted ill patients. Given that common laboratory values may provide key insights into the illness caused by the life‐threatening SARS‐CoV‐2 virus, it would be more helpful for screening, clinical management and on‐time therapeutic strategies. Commensurate with these issues, this review article aimed to discuss the dynamic changes of the common laboratory parameters during COVID‐19 and their association with cardiovascular diseases. Besides, the values that changed in the early stage of the disease were considered and monitored during the recovery process. The time required for returning biomarkers to basal levels was also discussed. Finally, of particular interest, we tended to abridge the latest updates regarding the cardiovascular biomarkers as prognostic and diagnostic criteria to determine the severity of COVID‐19.

Early Career Scientists' Guide to the Red Blood Cell - Don't Panic!

Why should we take interest in studying red blood cells? This mini review attempts to answer this question and highlights the problems that authors find most appealing in this dynamic research area. It addresses the early career scientists who are just starting their independent journey and facing tough times. Despite unlimited access to information, the exponential development of computational and intellectual powers, and the seemingly endless possibilities open to talented and ambitious early career researchers, they soon realize that the pressure of imminent competition for financial support is hard. They have to hit deadlines, produce data, publish, report, teach, manage, lead groups, and remain loving family members at the same time. Are these countless hardships worth it? We think they are. Despite centuries of research, red blood cells remain a mysterious and fascinating study objects. These cells bring together experts within the family of the European Red Cell Society and beyond. We all share our joy for the unknown and excitement in understanding how red cells function and what they tell us about the microenvironments and macroenvironments they live in. This review is an invitation to our colleagues to join us on our quest.

Association of ABO blood types with ST resolution following thrombolysis in acute ST elevation myocardial infarction

Introduction: There is paucity of data about the possible role of ABO antigen in response to pharmacologic reperfusion therapy in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and its relationship with ST segment recovery; thus, we aimed to evaluate the association of ABO antigen with ST-segment resolution in STEMI patients treated with thrombolysis.

Methods: This prospective and observational study was conducted between March 2016 and September 2017 on patients with first acute STEMI within the first 12 hours after onset of symptoms treated with thrombolysis. Myocardial reperfusion success was determined by single-lead ST-segment recovery in 12-lead ECG. Patients were considered as responders if ST-segment resolved ≥50% or were assigned as non-responders if ST-segment resolution was <50%. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to examine the contribution of "A" and "B" blood group antigens to ST-segment resolution and the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular or cerebrovascular event (MACCE). Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were reported for each variable.

Results: In this study 303 patients (187 males and 116 females) with a mean age of 56.6 ± 16.8 (ranging from 39 to 87 years) were enrolled. 184 patients (60.7%) were responders and 119 patients (39.2%) were non-responders. The presence of either A (4.5 folds increase) or B (5.4 folds increase) antigen was associated with a higher likelihood of a response to thrombolytic therapy, while had not effect on the occurrence of MACCE.

Conclusion: We conclude that the presence of A or B blood group antigens is associated with a better response to thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute STEMI. This finding may imply a higher likelihood for thrombotic occlusion of coronary arteries in patients who have either A or B antigen in their blood.

The role of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) in cardiovascular risk assessment: useful or hype?

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) reflects erythrocyte size distribution, thus representing a reliable index of anisocytosis, widely used for the differential diagnosis of micro- and normocytic anaemias. Along with the large use in diagnostic hematology, RDW has been associated with presence and complications of a vast array of human pathologies during the last decades, including cardiovascular (CV) diseases. This article is hence aimed to provide an overview of important studies and systematic reviews with meta-analysis, in which RDW has been associated with CV events and mortality, in the attempt of establishing whether enough evidence exists for supporting its routine use in clinical practice. According to available data it seems reasonable to conclude that although the diagnostic specificity is low, and this measure is still plagued by important lack of standardization, RDW can be regarded as an index of enhanced patient fragility and higher vulnerability to adverse outcomes. Abnormal RDW values shall hence persuade physicians to broaden the diagnostic reasoning over anaemias, especially those due to malnutrition or malabsorption, encompassing a comprehensive assessment of traditional and non-traditional CV risk factors.

Red Cell Distribution Width and Mortality in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis on Prognosis

Background

Red cell distribution width (RDW), a routine component of the complete blood count (CBC), measures variation in the size of circulating erythrocytes. It has been associated with several clinical outcomes in cardiovascular disease. We sought to strengthen the association between RDW and mortality in patients admitted for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) by pooling together data from available studies.

Methods

Studies that fulfilled the following were identified for analysis: 1) observational; 2) included patients admitted for ACS; 3) reported data on all-cause or cardiovascular (CV) mortality in association with a low or high RDW; and 4) used logistic regression analysis to control for confounders. Using MEDLINE, Clinical Key, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases, a search for eligible studies was conducted until January 9, 2017. The quality of each study was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Our primary outcome of interest was all-cause or CV mortality. We also investigated the impact of RDW on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) for the studies that reported these outcomes. Review Manager (RevMan) 5.3 was utilized to perform Mantel-Haenzel analysis of random effects and compute for relative risk.

Results

We identified 13 trials involving 10,410 patients, showing that in ACS, a low RDW is associated with a statistically significant lower all-cause or CV mortality (RR 0.35, (95% CI 0.30 to 0.40), P < 0.00001, I² = 53%), a finding that was consistent both in the short- and long-term.

Conclusions

A low RDW is also associated with lower risk for MACEs after an ACS (RR 0.56, (95% CI 0.51 to 0.61), P < 0.00001, I² = 91%). A low RDW during an ACS is associated with lower all-cause or CV mortality and lower risk of subsequent MACEs, providing us with a convenient and inexpensive risk stratification tool in ACS patients.

Combined value of red blood cell distribution width and global registry of acute coronary events risk score on predicting long-term major adverse cardiac events in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI

The combined value of RDW and GRACE risk score for cardiovascular prognosis in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been fully investigated. This study was designed to explore the combined value of RDW and GRACE risk score on predicting long-term major adverse cardiac event (Mace) in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI. This study included 390 STEMI patients. The primary endpoint at the (33.5 ± 7.1) months follow-up was composed of cardiac death and nonfatal myocardial infarction. The relationship between clinical parameters and clinical outcomes was evaluated using Cox regression model and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Mace occurred in 126 (32.3%) patients including 54 (13.8%) cardiac deaths and 72 (18.5%) nonfatal myocardial infarctions. Patients in Mace group had significantly higher RDW and GRACE score than the patients in non-Mace group. According to the Cox model, RDW and GRACE score were the most important independent predictors of Mace and cardiac death. The best cut-off value for RDW to predict the occurrence of primary events was 13.25% (AUC = 0.694, 95% CI:0.639–0.750, P < 0.001) and that for GRACE score was 119.5 (AUC = 0.721, 95% CI:0.666–0.777, P < 0.001). The combination of RDW and GRACE score were more valuable (AUC = 0.775, 95% CI: 0.727–0.824, P < 0.001). Kaplan–Meier analysis provided significant prognostic information with the highest risk for cardiac death (Log-Rank χ² = 24.684, P < 0.001) in group with both high RDW (> 13.25%) and high GRACE score (> 119.5). The combination of RDW level and GRACE score may be valuable and simple independent predictors of Mace and cardiac death in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI. They may be useful tools for risk stratification and may indicate long-term clinical outcomes.

Toward a Blood-Borne Biomarker of Chronic Hypoxemia: Red Cell Distribution Width and Respiratory Disease

Hypoxemia (systemic oxygen desaturation) marks the presence, risk, and progression of many diseases. Episodic or nocturnal hypoxemia can be challenging to detect and quantify. A sensitive, specific, and convenient marker of recent oxygen desaturation represents an unmet medical need. Observations of acclimatization to high altitude in humans and animals reveals several proteosomic, ventilatory, and hematological responses to low oxygen tension. Of these, increased red cell distribution width (RDW) appears to have the longest persistence. Literature review and analyses of a 2M patient database across the full disease pathome revealed that increased RDW is predictive of poor outcome for certain diseases including many if not all hypoxigenic conditions. Comprehensive review of diseases impacting the respiratory axis show many are associated with increased RDW and no apparent counterexamples. The mechanism linking RDW to outcome is unknown. Conjectural roles for iron deficiency, inflammation, and oxidative stress have not been born out experimentally. Sports-doping studies show that erythropoietin (EPO) injection can induce formation of unusually large red blood cells (RBC) in sufficient numbers to increase RDW. Because endogenous EPO responds strongly to hypoxemia, this molecule could potentially mediate a long-lived RDW response to low oxygenation. RDW may be a guidepost signaling that unexploited information is embedded in subtle RBC variation. Applying modern techniques of measurement and analysis to certain RBC characteristics may yield a more specific and sensitive marker of chronic pulmonary and circulatory diseases, sleep apnea, and opioid inhibition of breathing.

Red blood cell distribution width independently predicts medium-term mortality and major adverse cardiac events after an acute coronary syndrome

BACKGROUND

The value of red blood cell distribution width (RDW), a simple and inexpensive measure of anisocytosis, has been associated with the outcome of many human chronic disorders. Therefore, this retrospective study was aimed to investigate whether RDW may be associated with medium-term mortality and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

METHODS

A total number of 979 patients diagnosed with ACS were enrolled from June 2014 to November 2014, and followed-up until June 2015.

RESULTS

The RDW value in patients with 3-month MACE and in those who died was significantly higher than that of patients without 3-month MACE (13.3% vs. 14.0%; P<0.001) and those who were still alive at the end of follow-up (13.4% vs. 14.4%; P<0.001). In univariate analysis, RDW was found to be associated with 3-month MACE [odds ratio (OR), 1.70; 95% CI, 1.44-2.00, P<0.001]. In multivariate analysis, RDW remained independently associated with 3-month MACE (adjusted OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.19-1.55; P<0.001) and death (adjusted OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.05-1.71; P=0.020). The accuracy of RDW for predicting 3-month MACE was 0.67 (95% CI, 0.66-0.72; P<0.001). The most efficient discriminatory RDW value was 14.8%, which was associated with 3.8 (95% CI, 2.6-5.7; P<0.001) higher risk of 3-month MACE. Patients with RDW >14.8% exhibited a significantly short survival than those with RDW ≤14.8% (331 vs. 465 days; P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study confirm that RDW may be a valuable, easy and inexpensive parameter for stratifying the medium-term risk in patients with ACS.

Clinical and laboratory predictors of coronary slow flow in coronary angiography

Background:

The coronary slow-flow phenomenon (CSFP) is a multifactorial angiographic finding with no established pathogenesis.

Objective:

To investigate the role of clinical profile and laboratory findings in patients with CSFP.

Methods:

We prospectively recruited 69 patients with angiographically diagnosed CSFP and compared them with 88 patients with normal coronary flow. Demographic information, comorbidities and laboratory analysis, including complete blood count with differential, lipid profile and serum biochemical analysis, were documented and compared in univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results:

Patients with CSFP were more likely to be male and active smokers. Total cholesterol, triglyceride, hemoglobin and hematocrit, platelet count, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width and red cell distribution width (RDW) were all higher in patients with CSFP. In multivariate regression analysis, including smoking, total cholesterol, hematocrit, fasting blood glucose and red cell distribution width, except fasting blood glucose, all variables were independently associated with CSFP. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed a cut-off point of 13.05% for RDW with a sensitivity of 74.6% and a specificity of 77.3% (p<0.001, AUC = 0.802) A cut-off value of 11.35% for PDW had a 89.9% sensitivity and 98.9% specificity for the prediction of CSFP (p<0.001, AUC = 0.970)

Conclusion:

The changes of circulating blood cell components in patients with CSFP may be indicative of underlying inflammation and endothelial dysfunction that should be investigated in experimental studies.