title: Elevated red blood cell distribution width in healthy smokers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has been reported to be a marker of morbidity and mortality for some cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. We aimed to evaluate RDW values in otherwise healthy smokers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and twenty consecutive subjects with current smoking and 230 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects without smoking history were enrolled. Number of cigarettes smoked per day and duration of smoking, evaluated as pack years, were recorded. Complete blood count, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and lipid profile were analyzed in all study participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean RDW values were higher in smokers than in nonsmokers (13.9±1.2 vs. 13.1±0.8, p<0.0001). The mean leukocyte count, mean platelet volume and hs-CRP levels were also significantly greater in smokers when compared to nonsmokers (8440±1.750 vs. 7090±1550, p<0.0001; 8.7±0.8 fL vs. 8.3±0.6 fL, p<0.0001; 2.42±0.53 mg/L vs. 1.46±0.52 mg/L, p<0.0001, respectively). Significant positive correlations between RDW and number of cigarettes smoked per day and between RDW and duration of smoking were identified (r=0.565 and r=0.305, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated RDW is associated with cigarette smoking and may be a useful indicator of inflammatory activity in smokers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Elazığ Training and Research Hospital, Elazığ, Turkey. erkurtoglu@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ertuğrul
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kurtoğlu
authors.forename: Erdal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aktürk
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Korkmaz
authors.forename: Isa
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sincer
authors.forename: Mücahid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
authors.forename: Kenan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Erdem
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood*; D013147:Spirometry; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein