Relationship between red cell distribution width and stroke in patients with stable chronic heart failure: a propensity score matching analysis

Red cell distribution width is associated with stroke severity and unfavorable functional outcomes in ischemic stroke

Background

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is considered to be related to coronary heart disease and heart failure and all-cause mortality, but its relationship with acute ischemic stroke is still unclear. In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between RDW and the stroke severity and functional outcomes of ischemic stroke.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed patients with acute ischemic stroke between September 2016 and January 2020. Demographic, clinical, stroke complications, laboratory data, and treatment were collected for all patients. Stroke severity and functional outcomes were evaluated by NIHSS score, modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and Barthel Index (BI) at 3 months. Furthermore, multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between RDW and stroke severity and functional outcomes.

Results

A total of 629 patients with acute ischemic stroke were included and were categorized into four groups according to the quartiles of RDW (< 12.4, 12.4–12.9, 13.0–13.4, > 13.4). After multivariable analysis, higher RDW was directly associated with moderate to severe stroke (OR 2.21, 95% CI, 1.30–3.75, P = 0.003), mRS score of 3–6 at 3 months (OR 1.86, 95% CI, 1.02–3.41, P = 0.044), and BI score below 85 at 3 months (OR 2.27, 95% CI, 1.25–4.12, P = 0.007) in patients with ischemic stroke.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate that RDW is associated with stroke severity and unfavorable functional outcomes at 3 months in patients with ischemic stroke.

The difference in red blood cell distribution width from before to after thrombolysis as a prognostic factor in acute ischemic stroke patients: A 2-year follow-up

Purpose

The aim of our study was to determine whether delta red blood cell distribution (ΔRDW) improves neurological outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients 2 years after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) therapy.

Methods

AIS patients who received IVT between January 2013 and December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. In accordance with their mRS scores, the patients were divided into two groups. A binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the influencing factors of adverse functional outcomes. It was decided to evaluate the variables' the predictive ability by using the area under the receiver operating characteristic. For the poor neurological recovery risk model, features were selected using the LASSO regression model. We also developed a predictive model based on logistic regression analysis, which combined the features selected in the minimum absolute contraction and selection operator regression models. An evaluation of the discrimination, calibration, and clinical applicability of the predictive model was conducted using the C index, calibration chart, and decision curve analysis. Internal validation was evaluated via bootstrapping.

Results

Binary logistic regression analysis showed that ΔRDW was an independent influencing factor for poor neurofunctional outcomes. The most appropriate ΔRDW cut-off value for predicting the recovery of poor neurological outcomes was 18.9% (sensitivity: 89.9%, specificity: 78.6%, p < 0.001). The predictive factors included in the nomogram were age, the occurrence of CHD, stroke, AF, ΔRDW, NIHSS score at onset, interval time from onset to IVT, and whether there were indwelling urine catheters and gastric tubes. The model has not only a good discrimination ability, which was indicated by an overall C index of 0.891 (95% confidence interval: 0.829–0.953), but also a considerable calibration ability. Decision curve analysis showed that the nomogram of adverse neurological outcomes recovery was useful in the clinical practice when intervention was implemented above the threshold of 1% possibility of adverse neurological outcomes recovery.

Conclusion

In patients with AIS after thrombolysis, the ΔRDW is a potential influencing factor that can be readily used to predict the likelihood of poor neurological function recovery.

Association of Red Blood Cell Distribution Width with Stroke Prognosis Among Patients with Small Artery Occlusion: A Hospital-Based Prospective Follow-Up Study

Objective

Stroke is the leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide. However, there is no study on the relationship between red blood cell distribution width and the prognosis of small artery occlusion, which is a stroke subtype. This study aimed to assess the association of red blood cell distribution width at admission with outcomes among patients with small artery occlusion.

Methods

In this hospital-based follow-up study, all included patients were diagnosed with small artery occlusion. Outcomes included death, recurrence, and dependency at 3, 12, and 36 months after stroke onset. Multivariate analysis was performed to explore the association of red blood cell distribution width with stroke outcomes.

Results

This study included 1576 patients with small artery occlusion who were followed up at 3, 12, and 36 months. For every unit increase in red blood cell distribution width, the risk of stroke recurrence and dependency increased by 5.1% (95% CI 1.002–1.102, P=0.039) at 3 months after stroke onset. At the 12-month follow-up, for every unit increase in red blood cell distribution width, the risk of stroke recurrence increased by 3.4% (95% CI 1.000–1.069, P=0.047). However, the relationship between red blood cell distribution width and mortality rate was not significant at 36 months after stroke onset after adjustment of covariates.

Conclusion

Red blood cell distribution width is an important hematological index of small artery occlusion. It may be used to predict the recurrence of acute ischemic stroke in small artery occlusion. Therefore, patients with higher baseline values of red blood cell distribution width may need more risk factor control to reduce recurrence and dependency.

Red Blood Cell Distribution Width as Novel Biomarker in Cardiovascular Diseases: A Literature Review

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a measure of the change in size of red blood cells and it is used in combination with other hematological parameters for the differential diagnosis of anemias. Recent evidence suggested that the change in RDW level may be a predictive biomarker of morbidity and mortality in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death globally as compared to cancer and communicable diseases. Early diagnosis and prompt intervention of these diseases are very important to minimize their complications. Nowadays, the diagnosis of most cardiovascular diseases majorly depends on clinical judgment, electrocardiography and biochemical parameters. Red blood cell distribution width as a new predictive biomarker may play a pivotal role in assessing the severity and progression of CVDs. However, the underlying mechanisms for the association between RDW and CVDs are not clear. A deeper understanding of their association could help the physicians in more careful identification, early prevention, intervention, and treatment to prevent adverse cardiovascular events. This review aims to elaborate on the recent knowledge on the association between RDW and cardiovascular diseases and some possible pathophysiological mechanisms.

Correlation between red blood cell distribution width, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, and neutrophil to platelet ratio with 3-month prognosis of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a parameter that indsicates the heterogeneity of red blood cell size and could be a prognostic factor in some diseases. Also, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is considered a vascular event with a high mortality rate. We aimed to examine the role of RDW, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and neutrophil to platelet ratio (NPR) in predicting the prognosis of patients with ICH.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study conducted on 140 patients with ICH admitted to the neurology ward and intensive care unit (ICU) in Imam Reza Hospital, Tabriz, Iran. Demographic data, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and complete blood count test parameters were evaluated within 24 h after hospitalization. These variables were collected and re-evaluated three months later.

RESULTS

The mean age of the study population was 61.14 (± 16) years and 51% were male. The mean NLR (p = 0.05), neutrophil count (p=0.04), platelet count (p = 0.05), and NIHSS (p<0.01)  had a significant difference between the deceased patients and those who partially recovered after three months. The ROC curve showed that NIHSS (area under curve (AUC): 0.902), followed by NPR (AUC: 0.682) variables had the highest AUC.

CONCLUSION

RDW could be a relevant prognostic factor and predictor in determining 3-months survival in ICH. Nevertheless, further large-scale prospective cohorts might be needed to evaluate the associations.

Associations between red cell distribution width and outcomes of adults with in-hospital cardiac arrest: A retrospective study

Previous studies found that high red cell distribution width (RDW) value is associated with poor outcomes among out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors. The aim of this study was to investigate whether post-ROSC RDW value was associated with survival and neurological outcomes of in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) patients achieving return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) but remaining critically ill.This retrospective single-center observational study included IHCA adults with sustained ROSC between January 1, 2017 and January 1, 2021 at an academic medical center in China. PostROSC RDW values were measured within 1 hour after sustained ROSC. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge and the secondary outcome was favorable neurological outcome at hospital discharge. The associations between postROSC RDW value and outcomes among IHCA patients with ROSC were evaluated by using multivariate logistic regression.A total of 730 patients with sustained ROSC following IHCA were ultimately included in this study. Of whom 194 (26.6%) survived to hospital discharge and 116 (15.9%) had a favorable neurological outcome at hospital discharge. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, lower postROSC RDW value was independently associated with survival to hospital discharge (odds ratio 0.19, 95% confidence interval 0.15-0.63, P = .017, cut-off value: 15.5%) and favorable neurological outcome at hospital discharge (odds ratio 0.23, 95% confidence interval 0.07-0.87, P < .001, cut-off value: 14.6%). Other independent factors including younger age, initial shockable rhythm, shorter total cardiopulmonary resuscitation duration and post-ROSC percutaneous coronary intervention were also associated with survival to hospital discharge. Regarding favorable neurological outcome at hospital discharge, significant variables other than the aforementioned factors included postROSC targeted temperature management and absence of pre-existing neurological insufficiency.Low postROSC RDW value was associated with survival to hospital discharge and favorable neurological outcome at hospital discharge.

Predicting Risk of Stroke From Lab Tests Using Machine Learning Algorithms: Development and Evaluation of Prediction Models

Background

Stroke, a cerebrovascular disease, is one of the major causes of death. It causes significant health and financial burdens for both patients and health care systems. One of the important risk factors for stroke is health-related behavior, which is becoming an increasingly important focus of prevention. Many machine learning models have been built to predict the risk of stroke or to automatically diagnose stroke, using predictors such as lifestyle factors or radiological imaging. However, there have been no models built using data from lab tests.

Objective

The aim of this study was to apply computational methods using machine learning techniques to predict stroke from lab test data.

Methods

We used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data sets with three different data selection methods (ie, without data resampling, with data imputation, and with data resampling) to develop predictive models. We used four machine learning classifiers and six performance measures to evaluate the performance of the models.

Results

We found that accurate and sensitive machine learning models can be created to predict stroke from lab test data. Our results show that the data resampling approach performed the best compared to the other two data selection techniques. Prediction with the random forest algorithm, which was the best algorithm tested, achieved an accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and area under the curve of 0.96, 0.97, 0.96, 0.75, 0.99, and 0.97, respectively, when all of the attributes were used.

Conclusions

The predictive model, built using data from lab tests, was easy to use and had high accuracy. In future studies, we aim to use data that reflect different types of stroke and to explore the data to build a prediction model for each type.

Preoperative red cell distribution width predicts postoperative cognitive dysfunction after coronary artery bypass grafting

We assessed the relationship between red blodd cell distribution width (RDW) and postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients who usually had obvious hemodynamic changes. We enrolled 362 coronary heart disease patients who received CABG. POCD was assessed through neuropsychological examination at 21 days after operation. Demographics, history of diseases, blood biochemical parameters and perioperative data were collected. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to find the best cut-off value of RDW for diagnosis of POCD. Logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between RDW and POCD. The 21-day incidence of POCD in patients receiving CABG was 27.1% (98/362). The RDW of POCD patients was significantly higher than in the non-POCD patients (17.4 vs. 13.2). The sensitivity and specificity of RDW for predicting POCD were 82.7 and 64.8%, respectively. The POCD patients also tended to be older and had higher fasting plasma glucose, hypersensitive c-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, white blood cell levels and longer surgery time. No significant differences were found in other parameters. The 21-day neuropsychological test results were better in the POCD patients than the non-POCD patients. After adjustment of potential factors, the preoperative high RDW was still associated with an increased risk of POCD (odds ratio (OR) = 2.52, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.28–4.31). Our study indicates that preoperative RDW is significantly elevated in POCD patients receiving CABG. The elevated preoperative RDW is associated with an increased risk of POCD and preoperative RDW can be an independent predictor of POCD.

Elevated Red Blood Cell Distribution Width May Be a Novel Independent Predictor of Poor Functional Outcome in Patients Treated with Mechanical Thrombectomy

Purpose

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) evaluates the variation (size heterogeneity) in red blood cells. Elevated RDW has been identified as a predictor of poor functional outcomes for acute ischemic stroke. The association between elevated RDW level and poor functional outcome in stroke patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy has not been reported before. This study aims to investigate this relationship.

Materials and Methods

This was a multicenter retrospective study involving the prospectively and consecutively collected data of 205 adult stroke patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy for anterior circulation large vessel occlusion (middle cerebral artery M1, anterior cerebral artery A1, tandem ICA-MCA, carotid T) between July 2017 and December 2019. RDW cut off levels were accepted as >16%. The effect of elevated RDW on poor functional outcome (modified Rankin scale 3–6) was investigated using bivariate and multivariate regression analysis.

Results

Elevated RDW was significantly associated with poor functional outcome in bivariate and multivariate analysis (odds ratio [OR] for RDW >16%, 2.078; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.083–3.966; P=0.027 and OR for RDW >16%, 2.873; 95% CI, 1.342–6.151; P=0.007; respectively).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that elevated RDW may be an independent predictor of poor functional outcomes in ischemic stroke patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy.

The predictive value of red cell distribution width for stroke severity and outcome

Objectives

In the present study, we sought to investigate the association between red cell distribution width (RDW) and stroke severity and outcome in patients who underwent anti-thrombolytic therapy with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA).

Results

In this prospective study, 282 stroke patients who underwent tPA injection were included. The categorization of RDW to < 12.9% and > 13% values revealed insignificant difference in stroke severity score, accounting for the mean 36-h NIHSS of 8.19 ± 8.2 in normal RDW values and 9.94 ± 8.28in higher RDW group (p = 0.64). In seventh day, NIHSS was 6.46 ± 7.28 in normal RDW group and was 8.52 ± 8.35 in increased RDW group (p = 0.058). Neither the 36-h, nor the seventh day and 3-month mRS demonstrated significant difference between those with normal and higher RDW values.

The diagnostic and prognostic value of red cell distribution width in cardiovascular disease; current status and prospective

The red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is an index of the heterogeneity of circulating red blood cell size, which along with other standard complete blood count (CBC) parameters are used to identify hematological system diseases. Besides hematological disorders, several clinical studies have shown that an increased in the RDW may be associated with other diseases including acute pancreatitis, chronic kidney disease, gastrointestinal disorders, cancer, and of special interest in this review, cardiovascular disease (CVD). The diagnostic and prognostic value of RDW in different CVD (acute coronary syndrome, ischemic cerebrovascular disease, peripheral artery disease, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and acute ischemic stroke) has been reviewed in this article, to provide an understanding how its measurement may be applied to improve the management of these conditions.

Diagnostic and Prognostic Relevance of Red Blood Cell Distribution Width for Vascular Aging and Cardiovascular Diseases

Evidence suggests association of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). On the contrary, we underline that the sole RDW values cannot represent a valid CVD biomarker. High RDW values are expression of biological effects of a lot of both endogenous and exogenous factors (i.e., age, sex, genetic background, inflammation, hormones, drugs, diet, exercise, hematological analyzers, and ranges of values), modulating the biology and physiology of erythrocytes. Thus, the singular monitoring of RDW cannot be used to predict cardiovascular disorders. Accordingly, we have reviewed the evidence for potential relationship of RDW values with alterations in the cardiovascular system (i.e., regenerative capacity, endothelial turnover, and senescence of cardiovascular cells), associated with vascular aging and disease. In addition, we highlight the inevitable impact of biases in clinical application of RDW related to CVDs. Based on our thorough review of literature, we suggest a combined evaluation of RDW with other emerging biomarkers related to vascular aging and the diagnosis and prognosis of CVDs, including telomere length of leukocytes, circulating nucleated red blood cells (nRBCs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in future large scale studies.

No associations exists between red blood cell distribution width and serum uric acid in both sexes

The aim of this study was to determine whether there was a significant association between red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and uric acid (UA) in a large Chinese population.This was a cross-sectional study with an enrollment of 80,298 ostensibly healthy participants (48,971 males, 31,327 females) during the period from 2011 to 2015. In the study, database was grouped by sex and the association between RDW and UA was analyzed by quartiles of RDW.UA values between different sexes and RDW subgroups were analyzed by 2-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni t tests. Prevalence of hyperuricemia in different sexes was calculated. The relationship between risks of hyperuricemia and RDW level was analyzed by binary logistic regression with or without adjustment for age and body mass index.UA values were not all the same between different sexes and RDW subgroups. Males had significantly higher hyperuricemia prevalence than females (20.00% vs 6.48%, P < .01). In addition, hyperuricemia prevalence in males decreased slightly across RDW quartiles, but was stable in females. No significant association between hyperuricemia risk and RDW was found in both sexes according to the results of multivariate logistic regression analysis. Similarly, negative results were also observed in multivariate linear analysis when both RDW and UA were considered as continuous variable.We could not find any significant relationship between RDW and UA in both sexes.

The Impact of Red Cell Distribution Width on the Development of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease who Underwent Coronary Angiography

Objectives:

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) accounts for 10% of all causes of hospital-acquired renal failure. The pathophysiological cellular mechanism of the CIN development remains unclear and seems to be multifactorial. Herein, we aimed to determine the role of red cell distribution width (RDW) in the development of CIN after elective percutaneous intervention in patients with stable coronary artery disease, which in our opinion has not been researched enough.

Methods:

Between October 2009 and October 2011, a total of 211 patients with stable coronary artery disease who had undergone a coronary intervention procedure were evaluated prospectively. The patients were classified according to the development of CIN, and both groups were compared statistically according to clinical, laboratory, and demographic features, including the serum RDW level.

Results:

In 18.8% of the patients, CIN was observed. The mean age was 64±10.5, and 59% of the study group was male. An advanced age, male gender, hypertension, the serum total protein level, high density lipoprotein, and albumin levels were correlated with the development of CIN. The mean RDW level was 13.7±1.4%, and the mean creatinine level was 1.0±0.2 mg/dL. There was not any correlation between RDW and the presence of CIN (CIN[−]=13.8±1.5, CIN[+]=13.6±1.0, p>0.05), and also a multivariate regression analysis proved this non-correlation (OR : 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.62–1.34; p: 0.67 ). There was only a correlation between hypertension and male gender with CIN that was proved with a multivariate regression analysis (OR=5.74, 95% CI: 1.96–16.79, p<0.01 vs OR=5.34, 95% CI=1.22–23.3, p: 0.02, respectively).

Conclusion:

Our outcomes indicate that the RDW has a limited use as a CIN predictor in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Red blood cell distribution width as a marker of cerebral infarction in hemodialysis patients

Background: Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a cardiovascular biomarker. We evaluated the association between RDW and cerebral stroke risk in hemodialysis patients.

Methods: A cohort of 442 adult patients on hemodialysis was studied. Strokes were defined according to ICD-10 diagnosis codes. Routine complete blood counts, evaluated every 3–6 months, were used for RDW values.

Results: Among 442 hemodialysis patients, during the 50-month follow-up, there were 62 cases (14.0%) of cerebral stroke: 41 (9.3%) with cerebral infarction and 21 (4.8%) with cerebral hemorrhage. Compared with nonstroke patients, a significantly higher RDW was measured in patients with cerebral stroke and cerebral infarction. However, no significant difference was seen in RDW between patients with cerebral hemorrhage and nonstroke patients. After adjustment by age, hypertension, albumin, Charlson Comorbidity Score, and C-reactive protein in different multivariable Cox regression models, patients with the highest mean RDW quartile had a 2.55-fold (hazard ratio = 3.55; 95% confidence interval: 1.33–9.51) higher risk of developing cerebral infarction relative to those with the lowest mean RDW quartile. RDW was not an independent risk factor for cerebral hemorrhage.

Conclusions: Increased RDW is an independent risk factor of cerebral infarction in hemodialysis patients.

Red Blood Cell Distribution Width: A Novel Predictive Indicator for Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases

The red blood cell distribution width (RDW) obtained from a standard complete blood count (CBC) is a convenient and inexpensive biochemical parameter representing the variability in size of circulating erythrocytes. Over the past few decades, RDW with mean corpuscular volume (MCV) has been used to identify quite a few hematological system diseases including iron-deficiency anemia and bone marrow dysfunction. In recent years, many clinical studies have proved that the alterations of RDW levels may be associated with the incidence and prognosis in many cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (CVDs). Therefore, early detection and intervention in time of these vascular diseases is critical for delaying their progression. RDW as a new predictive marker and an independent risk factor plays a significant role in assessing the severity and progression of CVDs. However, the mechanisms of the association between RDW and the prognosis of CVDs remain unclear. In this review, we will provide an overview of the representative literatures concerning hypothetical and potential epidemiological associations between RDW and CVDs and discuss the underlying mechanisms.

Red blood cell distribution width and ischaemic stroke

The red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a measure of red blood cell (RBC) size heterogeneity, which is easily calculated by dividing the SD of erythrocyte volumes for the mean corpuscular volume. Recent reporter suggested that, besides haematological diseases and anaemia, many human disorders may be closely associated with the elevated RDW. A literature review has revealed the RDW may be closely related to the development of ischaemic stroke, carotid artery atherosclerosis and cerebral embolism. Higher RDW could independently predict adverse outcomes in patients in these conditions.

Red blood cell distribution width and cardiovascular diseases

BACKGROUND

The red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a rather simple measure of red blood cell (RBC) size heterogeneity (i.e., anisocytosis), which is easily calculated by dividing the standard deviation (SD) of erythrocyte volumes for the mean corpuscular volume (MCV). Emerging evidence suggests that, besides RBC abnormalities, many human disorders may be frequently associated with a high degree of anisocytosis.

METHODS

In this narrative review, we analyzed the current scientific literature about the putative role and the potential epidemiologic association between RDW and cardiovascular diseases. The findings of the most representative epidemiological studies were summarized and discussed.

RESULTS

Overall, considerable and convincing evidence has been brought that an increased RDW value is associated with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) [including acute myocardial infarction (AMI)], ischemic cerebrovascular disease (including stroke), peripheral artery disease (PAD), as well as with atrial fibrillation (AF), heart failure (HF) and hypertension. Higher anisocytosis also significantly and independently predicts adverse outcomes in patients with these conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the role of anisocytosis in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases remains uncertain, the considerable evidence available so far suggests that the clinical use of RDW may be broadened beyond the conventional boundaries of erythrocyte disorders, in particular for assisting the diagnosis and prognostication of patients with ACS, ischemic cerebrovascular disease, PAD, HF and AF.

Red cell distribution width is associated with future risk of incident stroke. The Tromsø Study

Red cell distribution width (RDW), a measure of the variability in size of the circulating erythrocytes, is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We aimed to investigate whether RDW was associated with incident stroke and case fatality in subjects recruited from the general population. Baseline characteristics were obtained from 25,992 subjects participating in the fourth survey of the Tromsø Study, conducted in 1994/95. Incident stroke was registered from inclusion until December 31, 2010. Cox regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for stroke, adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, haemoglobin level, white blood cell count, thrombocyte count, hypertension, total cholesterol, triglycerides, self-reported diabetes, and red blood cell count. During a median follow-up of 15.8 years, 1152 participants experienced a first-ever stroke. A 1% increment in RDW yielded a 13% higher risk of stroke (multivariable HR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.07-1.20). Subjects with RDW in the highest quintile compared to the lowest had a 37% higher risk of stroke in multivariable analysis (HR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.11-1.69). Subjects with RDW above the 95-percentile had 55% higher risk of stroke compared to those in the lowest quintile (HR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.16-2.06). All risk estimates remained unchanged after exclusion of subjects with anaemia (n=1102). RDW was not associated with increased risk of death within one year or during the entire follow-up after an incident stroke. RDW is associated with incident stroke in a general population, independent of anaemia and traditional atherosclerotic risk factors.

Red cell distribution width in relation to incidence of stroke and carotid atherosclerosis: a population-based cohort study

Background

Increased red cell distribution width (RDW) has been related to poor prognosis in patients with cardiovascular disease, and is a predictor of cardiovascular mortality in the general population. The purpose of the present study was to investigate if RDW is associated with increased incidence of stroke and its subtypes in individuals from the general population.

Methods

Red cell distribution width was measured in 26,879 participants (16,561 women and 10,318 men aged 45–73 years) without history of coronary events or stroke, from the population-based Malmö Diet and Cancer Study. Incidences of total stroke and stroke subtypes over a mean follow-up of 15.2 years were calculated in relation to sex-specific quartiles of RDW. The presence of carotid plaque and intima–media thickness, as assessed by ultrasound, was studied in relation to RDW in a randomly selected subcohort (n = 5,309).

Results

Incidences of total stroke (n = 1,869) and cerebral infarction (n = 1,544) were both increased in individuals with high RDW. Hazard ratios (HRs) in the highest compared to the lowest quartile were 1.31 for total stroke (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11–1.54, p for trend = 0.004) and 1.32 for cerebral infarction (95% CI: 1.10–1.58, p for trend = 0.004) after adjustment for stroke risk factors and hematological parameters. The adjusted HR for intracerebral hemorrhage (n = 230) was 1.44 (95% CI: 0.90–2.30) and the HR for subarachnoid hemorrhage (n = 75) was 0.94 (95% CI: 0.43–2.07), in the highest compared to the lowest quartile of RDW. Red cell distribution width was positively associated with intima–media thickness of the common carotid artery (p for trend = 0.011).

Conclusions

Red cell distribution width in the highest quartile was associated with increased incidence of total stroke and cerebral infarction. There was no significant association between RDW and incidence of intracerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Red cell distribution width and neurological scoring systems in acute stroke patients

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the association between the red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Canadian Neurological Scale (CNS), and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores in patients who had acute ischemic stroke.

METHODS

This prospective observational cohort study included 88 patients who have had acute ischemic stroke and a control group of 40 patients who were evaluated in the Emergency Department for disorders other than acute ischemic stroke. All subjects had RDW determined, and stroke patients had scoring with the GCS, CNS, and NIHSS scores. The GCS, CNS, and NIHSS scores of the patients were rated as mild, moderate, or severe and compared with RDW.

RESULTS

Stroke patients had significantly higher median RDW than control subjects. The median RDW values were significantly elevated in patients who had more severe rather than milder strokes rated with all three scoring systems (GCS, CNS, and NIHSS). The median RDW values were significantly elevated for patients who had moderate rather than mild strokes rated by GCS and CNS and for patients who had severe rather than mild strokes rated by NIHSS. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.760 (95% confidence interval, 0.676-0.844). Separation of stroke patients and control groups was optimal with RDW 14% (sensitivity, 71.6%; specificity, 67.5%; accuracy, 70.3%).

CONCLUSION

In stroke patients who have symptoms <24 hours, the RDW may be useful in predicting the severity and functional outcomes of the stroke.