title: Coronary artery disease detected by coronary computed tomography angiography is associated with red cell distribution width.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Increased red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of the present study was to retrospectively evaluate the relationship between CAD detected by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and RDW.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records of 291 patients who underwent 16-slice CCTA due to the presence of angina-like chest pain were retrospectively evaluated. Exclusion criteria were applied. Clinical characteristics, risk factors for CAD, and RDW values on CCTA were noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RDW levels in patients with CAD were significantly higher than in those with normal coronary arteries (NCAs) (15.50±1.57 compared to 14.80±1.41, p=0.001). Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and history of smoking were significantly more common in the CAD group (p=0.018, p=0.007, and p=0.013, respectively). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, RDW (p=0.009 [odds ratio (OR): 1.352; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.081-1.683]), age (p<0.001 [OR: 1.063; 95% CI 1.031-1.090]), and history of smoking (p=0.003 [OR: 2.672; 95% CI: 1.360-5.232]) were shown to be independent predictors for CAD detected by CCTA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results suggest that higher RDW levels are independently associated with presence of CAD detected by CCTA in patients without known CAD. Further studies are warranted to clarify the exact role of RDW in risk stratification.
authors: Department of Cardiology, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. dremirkaracaglar@hotmail.com.
authors: Emir
authors: E
authors: Karaçağlar
authors: Department of Cardiology, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Uğur
authors: U
authors: Bal
authors: Department of Cardiology, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Senem
authors: S
authors: Hasırcı
authors: Department of Cardiology, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey.
authors: Mustafa
authors: M
authors: Yılmaz
authors: Department of Cardiology, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Ersin
authors: E
authors: Doğanözü
authors: Department of Radiology, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Coşkun
authors: Department of Cardiology, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: İlyas
authors: İ
authors: Atar
authors: Department of Cardiology, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Aylin
authors: A
authors: Yıldırır
authors: Department of Cardiology, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Haldun
authors: H
authors: Müderrisoğlu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000072226:Computed Tomography Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors