title: Increased red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with higher glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in the elderly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the present study was to examine whether red blood cell distribution width may be associated with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in a large cohort of unselected elderly Italian outpatients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective search on the database of the laboratory information system of the clinical chemistry laboratory of the General Hospital of Verona (Italy), to retrieve combined results of complete blood count (CBC) and HbA1c performed in outpatients aged 65 years or older during the year 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cumulative results of CBC and HbA1c could be retrieved for 2515 outpatients aged 65 years or older throughout the study period. In the entire population, HbA1c was significantly associated with RDW values (r = 0.11; p < 0.001), even after adjustment for age and gender. The concentration of HbA1c was significantly higher in patients with RDW > 14.0% than in those with RDW ≤ 14.0% (45 versus 43 mmol/mol; p < 0.001). The rate of HbA1c > 53 mmol/mol was greater among patients with RDW > 14.0% than among those with RDW ≤ 14.0% (19 versus 15%; p = 0.006). The odds ratio of an increased RDW value for HbA1c > 53 mmol/mol was 1.33 (95% CI, 1.08 - 1.65; p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this retrospective analysis extend the previous finding that RDW is significantly associated with HbA1c to a large cohort of unselected and elderly southern European outpatients. Since RDW is a simple and inexpensive parameter, it may be regarded as a potential, innovative biomarker for improving risk assessment of developing diabetes.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Lippi
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Targher
authors: Gian Luca
authors: GL
authors: Salvagno
authors: Gian Cesare
authors: GC
authors: Guidi
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human