The role of increased red cell distribution width as a negative prognostic marker in patients with COPD

• Published in: Pulmonary pharmacology & therapeutics 2020-02, Vol.60, p.101877-101877, Article 101877
• Main Authors: Karampitsakos, Theodoros, Dimakou, Katerina, Papaioannou, Ourania, Chrysikos, Serafeim, Kaponi, Maria, Bouros, Demosthenes, Tzouvelekis, Argyrios, Hillas, Georgios
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Biomarkers; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Cohort Studies; Erythrocyte Indices - physiology; Erythrocytes - pathology; Female; Hospitalizations; Humans; Hypercapnia; Long term oxygen therapy; Male; Non-invasive mechanical ventilation; Noninvasive Ventilation; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - blood; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - physiopathology; Red cell distribution width; Severity of Illness Index
• ISSN: 1094-5539; 1522-9629
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pupt.2019.101877

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains a major burden with no clinically applicable biomarkers. To investigate the association of Red cell Distribution Width (RDW) values on admission with previous hospitalizations, need of non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) and long term oxygen therapy (LTOT) in patients with COPD. Patients with AECOPD admitted to our department during 2018 were included in the study. One hundred sixty patients were enrolled (M/F 95/65, median age 71.00 years, mean FEV1± SD = 46.6 ± 28.9). Median RDW was significantly higher for patients in need of NIMV (14.8, 95% CI: 14.2 to 15.6) than patients not in need of NIMV (13.5, 95% CI: 13.2 to 13.8) (p