title: Prognostic value of red cell distribution width in patients with pulmonary embolism.
abstract: Elevated red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has been associated with adverse outcomes of heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. A total of 702 consecutive patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) were evaluated. There was a graded increase in mortality rate with RDW quartiles of 5.8% in quartile I (≤13.6), 9.7% in quartile II (13.7%-14.5%), 13.1% in quartile III (14.6%-16.3%), and 20% in quartile IV (>16.3%; P < .001). Patients who died had higher baseline RDW values (16.1% [11.7-28.3] vs 14.5% [10.7-32.5]; P < .001). The optimal cutoff value of RDW for predicting in-hospital mortality was ≥15%. The area under the curve of mortality for RDW was 0.649 (confidence interval [CI]: 0.584-0.715); the negative predictive value was 93%. In multivariable regression analysis, RDW remained associated with an increased odds of death (odds ratio: 1.2, 95% CI: 1.1-1.4). High RDW level was an independent predictor of short-term mortality in PE. The RDW levels may provide a potential marker to predict outcome in patients with PE.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, School of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Savas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozsu
authors.forename: Yasin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abul
authors.forename: Selda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gunaydin
authors.forename: Asim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orem
authors.forename: Tevfik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ozlu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: mortality; pulmonary embolism; red cell distribution width