title: [Red cell distribution width and mortality risk in acute heart failure patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a quantitative measure of the variability in size of erythrocytes, and it is used for the differential diagnosis of anemia. Recent reports have suggested that high RDW could play a role for risk stratification in patients with chronic heart failure. However, the prognostic role of RDW in unselected population with acute heart failure (AHF), after a thoroughly multivariate adjustment, has not been well established. The aim of this study was to establish the association between RDW and long-term mortality in patients admitted for AHF.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 1,190 consecutive patients admitted for AHF in our center. RDW measurement was performed on admission. RDW values were stratified into quartiles (Q) and the association of RDW with total mortality was assessed using Cox regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a median follow-up of 15 months (interquartile range 3-33 months) 458 (38%) deaths were identified. There was a progressive increase in mortality rates from Q1 to Q4: 1.34, 1.82, 2.56 and 3.53 per 10 patients-year of follow-up (for Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 respectively, P for trend <.001). In the multivariate analysis, this association remained independent for patients in Q3 (15-16%) and Q4 (>16%) versus Q1 (≤14%), hazard ratio (HR): 1.66, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.24-2.22, P<.01, HR: 1.80, 95% CI 1.33-2.43, p<.01, respectively, in a model adjusted for established prognostic markers in AHF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with AHF, higher RDW values were associated with increased long-term mortality.
authors: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, INCLIVA, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, España. miryam_olivares@hotmail.com
authors: Miryam
authors: M
authors: Olivares Jara
authors: Enrique
authors: E
authors: Santas Olmeda
authors: Gema
authors: G
authors: Miñana Escrivà
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Palau Sampio
authors: Pilar
authors: P
authors: Merlos Díaz
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Sanchis Forés
authors: Julio
authors: J
authors: Núñez Villota
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015897:Comorbidity; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012306:Risk; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013318:Stroke Volume; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors