title: The accuracy of combined use of troponin and red cell distribution width in predicting mortality of patients with acute pulmonary embolism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiac troponins and red cell distribution width (RDW) are associated with increased mortality in acute pulmonary embolism (PE). In this study, we aimed to investigate the accuracy of the combined use of troponin and RDW in predicting short-term mortality in acute PE patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data of 201 patients with the diagnosis of acute PE were retrospectively analyzed. We obtained troponin-RDW scores (TR scores) using a combination of troponin and RDW values, and then evaluated this score's accuracy in predicting mortality in patients with acute PE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean participant age was 68 ± 16 years, and 52 % of patients were female. Fifteen (7.4 %) patients died during the first month. Patients classified as high-risk according to TR scores were older (72 ± 15 vs. 66 ± 15 years, p = 0.005), and they had higher heart rates (101 ± 20 vs. 90 ± 15 beat/min, p < 0.001) and respiratory rates (23 ± 4 vs. 21 ± 3 breath/min, p = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, TR (odds ratio [OR] 4.93, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.13-21.38, p = 0.033) and simplified pulmonary embolism severity index (sPESI) scores (OR 3.78, 95 % CI 1.71-8.37, p = 0.002) were independent predictors of 30-day mortality. For 30-day mortality, the TR score had a slightly lower sensitivity (87 % vs. 93 %), but a higher specificity (69 % vs. 52 %) compared to the sPESI score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The TR score is easy to calculate, and it may be used to predict early mortality in patients with acute PE.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Dr.Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Center, İstanbul, Turkey. dr.selcuk75@gmail.com.|, Cihadiye Street, No: 61/10 A-Blok, 34840, Altıntepe, Maltepe-İstanbul, Turkey. dr.selcuk75@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Selçuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yazıcı
authors.affiliation: Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Cardiology Clinic, Katip Celebi University, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tuncay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kırış
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Dr.Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Center, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ufuk S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Ceylan
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Dr.Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Center, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Şükrü
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Akyüz
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Dr.Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Center, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Uzun
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Dr.Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Center, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Recep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hacı
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Dr.Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Center, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sait
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terzi
authors.affiliation: Medical School, İzmir Katip Celebi University, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doğan
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Dr.Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Center, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayşe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Emre
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Dr.Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Center, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kemal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yeşilçimen
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D004906:Erythrocyte Count / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014336:Troponin / Q000097:blood*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D014336:Troponin
keywords: Acute pulmonary embolism; Red cell distribution width; SPESI score; Short-term mortality; TR score