Is Red Cell Distribution Width a Reliable Marker for Cardiovascular Diseases? A Narrative Review

Red cell distribution width (RDW) is an easy-to-access marker which is routinely measured in complete blood count (CBC) test. Besides the classic use of RDW as a marker for discriminating different types of anemia, recent studies had indicated the relationship between high RDW and cardiovascular diseases. High RDW is not only useful in the diagnosis and prognostication of various cardiovascular conditions but also could be used as a valuable tool for predicting the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. population-based studies have indicated that higher RDW could effectively predict the incidence of heart failure (HF), atherosclerotic diseases, and atrial fibrillation (AF). It has been also demonstrated that higher RDW is associated with worse outcomes in these diseases. Recent studies have shown that high RDW is also associated with other cardiovascular conditions including cardiomyopathies, and pulmonary hypertension. The predictive role of RDW in endovascular interventions has also been demonstrated by many recent studies. Here in this review, we attempt to compile the most recent findings with older reports regarding the relation between high RDW and HF, cardiomyopathies, pulmonary hypertension, AF, atherosclerotic disorders, primary hypertension, and the outcomes of endovascular interventions. we also discussed the role of RDW in the prognostication of different cardiovascular conditions when combined with classic classification criteria.

The evolving paradigm and current perception of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Implications for management

Recent evidence from imaging and genetic screening studies has clearly shown that hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is more common than initially perceived, emphasizing the need to reassess its associated clinical and social burden. While clinical and academic efforts have long been focused on stratification of arrhythmic risk and management of intraventricular obstruction, progression of cardiac dysfunction and heart failure-related complications have emerged as most relevant from the epidemiological standpoint, delineating a major unmet need. Furthermore, a broader perspective of our patients' needs has become central in the care of individuals with HCM, addressing issues that are not strictly clinical but equally important to their wellbeing, such as quality of life, athletic participation, lifestyle and reproductive choices and psychological adaptation to a chronic condition often detected at a young age. The appropriate evaluation and objective assessment of disease burden associated with HCM are increasingly relevant not only to management but also to trial design and evaluation of the efficacy of emerging, targeted treatments. In this review, we discuss the evolving perception of HCM prevalence and natural history, as well as recent acquisitions regarding its true, often under-appreciated socio-economic and clinical burden.

Red blood cell distribution width and all-cause mortality in congestive heart failure patients: a retrospective cohort study based on the Mimic-III database

Background

The red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a metric that measures the variation in the size of red blood cells and is presented as the red blood cell volume coefficient of variation. Increased RDW levels are closely linked to an elevated risk of death from congestive heart failure (CHF) and might be a new risk marker for cardiovascular disease. This research sought to evaluate the possible link between RDW levels and all-cause mortality in CHF patients after controlling for other covariates.

Methods

The publicly accessible Mimic-III database served as the source of data for our research. We employed ICU admission scoring systems to gather information on each patient's demographical data, laboratory test results, comorbid conditions, vital signs, and scores. Among CHF patients, the link between baseline RDW levels and short-, medium-, and long-term all-cause mortality was evaluated by Cox proportional hazard analysis, smooth curve fitting, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves.

Results

In total, 4,955 participants were selected for the study with an average age of 72.3 ± 13.5 years (old) and with males accounting for 53.1%. The findings recorded from the fully adjusted Cox proportional hazard model showed that higher RDW was associated with a greater risk of 30-day, 90-day, 365-day, and 4-year all-cause death; the HRs and 95% confidence intervals were 1.11 (1.05, 1.16), 1.09 (1.04, 1.13), 1.10 (1.06, 1.14), and 1.10 (1.06, 1.13), respectively. The results were stable and reliable using subgroup analysis. Smooth curve fitting and the K-M survival curve method further validated our results.

Conclusion

The RDW levels had a u-shaped connection with 30-day mortality. The RDW level was linked to an elevated risk of short-, medium-, and long-term all-cause death among CHF patients.

Circulating Biomarkers in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common genetic heart disease. Biomarkers, molecules measurable in the blood, could inform the clinician by aiding in diagnosis, directing treatment, and predicting outcomes. We present an updated review of circulating biomarkers in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy representing key pathologic processes including wall stretch, myocardial necrosis, fibrosis, inflammation, hypertrophy, and endothelial dysfunction, in addition to their clinical significance.

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and adverse outcomes in Chinese patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Background: Although numerous studies have suggested that elevated N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is positively correlated with cardiovascular events, especially the heart failure and heart failure-related death (HFRD), evidence of the association between NT-proBNP and the adverse outcomes of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is still relatively limited. The present study was performed to evaluate the relationship between NT-proBNP and outcomes in patients with HCM.

Methods: Observational cohort methodology was used in the present study, and a total of 227 patients were included. And the patients were followed for 44.97 ± 16.37 months. Patients were categorized into three groups according to these NT-proBNP tertiles: first tertile (≤910 pg/ml, n=68), second tertile (913–2141 pg/ml, n=68), and third tertile (≥2151 pg/ml, n=69). The adverse outcomes of the present study were all-cause death (ACD) and cardiac death (CD).

Results: According to the risk category of NT-proBNP, the incidence of ACD (P=0.005) and CD (P=0.032) among the three groups showed significant differences. Multivariate Cox regression analysis suggested that the ACD and CD in the third tertile have 7.022 folds (hazard risk [HR] = 7.022 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.397–35.282], P=0.018) and 7.129 folds (HR = 7.129 [95% CI: 1.329–38.237], P=0.022) increased risks as compared with those in the first tertile. Kaplan–Meier survival analyses showed that the cumulative risks of ACD and CD in patients with HCM tended to increase.

Conclusion: The present study indicated NT-proBNP was a novel biomarker suitable for predicting adverse prognosis in patients with HCM, which may be used for early recognition and risk stratification.

Prognostic value of red blood cell distribution width for mortality in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has emerged as a useful indicator for adverse outcomes in several cardiovascular diseases. The relation between RDW and the prognosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) remains to be evaluated. We examined the relation between RDW and all-cause mortality and HCM-related death in a population of adult HCM patients.

METHODS

We performed clinical evaluation in 414 consecutive adult HCM patients (median age, 57.5 years; male, 54.8%).

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 3.7 years, all-cause mortality and HCM-related death occurred in 75 (18.1%) and 50 (12.1%) patients, respectively. Based on the tertiles of baseline RDW, mortality increased with higher tertile. With the tertile 1 as reference, adjusted all-cause mortality hazard ratios (HRs) were 3.9 for the tertile 2 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5-10.3) and 3.1 for the tertile 3 (95% CI: 1.1-8.2). Adjusted HCM-related death HRs were higher in the tertile 2 (HR: 5.5; 95% CI: 1.2-24.4) and tertile 3 (HR: 6.6; 95% CI: 1.5-29.0) compared with the tertile 1. Further smooth curve fitting exhibited a saturation effect after adjusting for confounders, and there were a two-stage change and an inflection point. Two-piecewise Cox model suggested mortality significantly increased with RDW level up to the inflection point (about 14.0% for both all-cause mortality and HCM-related death), and RDW was not associated with mortality after the point.

CONCLUSION

In adult HCM patients, we found increased RDW was a significant risk predictor for all-cause mortality and HCM-related death, and a saturation effect was observed.

Red blood cell distribution width is associated with adverse cardiovascular events after septal myectomy

Background

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in several cardiovascular diseases. However, the prognostic significance of RDW in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) who underwent septal myectomy remains unclear as no studies have been conducted on this topic. This study aimed to assess the prognostic significance of RDW in these patients.

Methods

A total of 867 adults with HOCM who underwent septal myectomy at Fuwai Hospital from 2011 to 2017 were retrospectively studied. All patients were assessed comprehensively, including their medical history, echocardiograms, and blood test results.

Results

The median age of patients was 47.9 [interquartile range (IQR), 37.0–56.0] years and 61.5% of patients were men. During a median follow-up period of 32 (IQR, 17–53) months, 26 patients died and 23 had a cardiovascular death during follow-up. Compared to patients in the lowest RDW quartile, those in the highest quartile had a significantly lower 5-year survival free from all-cause and cardiovascular death (95.9% vs. 87.6%, P<0.001; 95.9% vs. 89.9%, P<0.001). Compared with lower RDW, higher RDW was significantly associated with all-cause and cardiovascular death after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, and relevant clinical risk factors [per RDW standard deviation (SD) hazard ratio (HR) increase =1.76, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.54–2.05, P<0.001; per RDW SD HR =1.91, 95% CI: 1.63–2.22, P for trend <0.001].

Conclusions

Higher RDW is independently associated with all-cause and cardiovascular death in patients with HOCM after septal myectomy. Therefore, this readily available biomarker could be considered as an additive biomarker for risk stratification in these patients.

A risk prediction model of urinary tract infections for patients with neurogenic bladder

Objectives: To develop a nomogram to evaluate the risk of urinary tract infections (UTI) in patients with neurogenic bladder (NGB)Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 337 patients with NGB admitted to three hospitals. Collected data included clinical symptoms, patients' general characteristics, laboratory examinations and imaging findings. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to develop the risk prediction nomogram of UTIs for NGB patients. C index was used for the internal and external validation of that model.Results: The occurrence of UTIs was 45.7% (154 of 337), 52.6% (102 of 194), and 36.4% (52 of 143) in the overall, training and validation data sets, respectively. The prediction nomogram was developed with 5 prognostic factors which included white blood cell (WBC) in blood, Leukocyte (LEU) in urine, Urinary pH, length of stay and urination mode. The nomogram presented good discrimination with a C-index value of 0.921 (95% confidence interval: 0.87396 - 0.96804) and good calibration. The C-index values of the interval validation and external validation were 0.8905541 and 0.817, respectively. The results of decision curve analysis (DCA) demonstrated that the model was clinically useful.Conclusions: The prediction nomogram we developed is a simple and accurate tool for early prediction of UTIs in patients with NGB. This tool can assess risk of UTIs early, allowing for timely initiation of appropriate preventive measures.

Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Heart Failure

Cognitive behavioral therapy has emerged as an important approach to alleviate the depression of patients with heart failure. However, the use of cognitive behavioral therapy for heart failure has not been well established. We conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for alleviating depression for heart failure.PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials are searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the influence of cognitive behavioral therapy on heart failure are included. Two investigators independently have searched articles, extracted data, and assessed the quality of included studies. Meta-analysis is performed using the random-effect model.Eight RCTs involving 480 patients are included in the meta-analysis. Compared with control intervention for heart failure, cognitive behavioral therapy can substantially decrease depression scale (Std. MD = -0.27; 95% CI = -0.47 to -0.06; P = 0.01), but has no substantial influence on the quality of life (Std. MD = 0.21; 95% CI = -0.01 to 0.42; P = 0.06), self-care scores (Std. MD = 0.12; 95% CI = -0.18 to 0.42; P = 0.44), and 6-minute walk test distance (Std. MD = 0; 95% CI = -0.28 to 0.28; P = 0.99).Cognitive behavioral therapy is associated with significantly decreased depression scale, but with no substantial impact on the quality of life, self-care scores, and 6-minute walk test distance for heart failure.