title: The relationship between red blood cell distribution width and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Lagos, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is related to impairment of erythropoiesis, reflecting chronic inflammation and increased levels of oxidative stress, both of which are telltale signs of type 2 diabetics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the RDW and fasting blood sugar/blood pressure, and compare the results from diabetics with nondiabetic controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an unmatched case-control study involving 200 participants consisting of 100 diabetics and 100 nondiabetic controls. Blood (4.5 mL) was collected from all of the diabetics and nondiabetic controls, and placed into EDTA anticoagulant tubes. A full blood count was performed using the Sysmex KX-21N, a three-part auto analyzer able to run 19 parameters per sample, including RDW. Blood pressure was measured during sample collection and in a sitting position.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean fasting blood sugar level was 95.20±30.10 mg/dL in the controls, and 147.85±72.54 mg/dL in the diabetics. The mean blood pressures for diabetics was 138/90 mmHg and for non-diabetics 120/80 mmHg. The mean RDW-SD (RDW standard deviation) was 46.44±4.64 fl in the controls, and 46.84±3.18 in the diabetics. The mean RDW-CV (RDW coefficient of variation) was 14.74%±1.94% in controls, and 14.80±0.71 for diabetics. No statistically significant correlation was found between the RDW-SD and fasting blood sugar/blood pressure in the diabetics. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the RDW-CV and blood pressure in the diabetics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A positive correlation between the RDW-CV and blood pressure was established in the diabetics in this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Lagos State University, College of Medicine, Ikeja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olusola Akinola
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Dada
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Lagos State University, College of Medicine, Ikeja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ebele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Uche
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Lagos State University, College of Medicine, Ikeja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Akinsegun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akinbami
authors.affiliation: Oak Hospitals, Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Majeed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Odesanya
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Ben Carson School of Medicine, Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: John-Olabode
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idiaraba, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adewumi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adediran
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Lagos State University, College of Medicine, Ikeja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olajumoke
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Oshinaike
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Lagos State University, College of Medicine, Ikeja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Anthonia Okeoghene
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ogbera
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Port Harcourt, River State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olaitan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Okunoye
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Lagos State University, College of Medicine, Ikeja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olanrewaju
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Arogundade
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Kingsley
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aile
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ekwere
keywords: RDW; fasting blood sugar; type 2 DM