Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026
Dynamic Assessments of Coronary Flow Reserve after Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion in Mice
Published on: August 25, 2023
Red cell distribution width and coronary artery bypass surgery
Richard Warwick1, Neeraj Mediratta, Matthew Shaw
1Department of Cardiac Surgery, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
Insights
Red cell distribution width (RDW) significantly impacts in-hospital mortality and long-term survival in patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. This association persists even without anemia, warranting further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
- Clinical Prognostics
Background:
- Red cell distribution width (RDW) is an established prognostic factor in coronary artery disease.
- The specific role of RDW in patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery requires elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prognostic significance of RDW in patients undergoing isolated CABG.
- To determine if RDW independently predicts outcomes such as mortality and survival post-CABG.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a prospective cardiac surgery database of patients undergoing isolated CABG.
- Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to assess the impact of RDW on in-hospital mortality, long-term survival, length of stay, and creatine kinase-muscle-brain (CKMB) release.
Main Results:
- RDW was significantly associated with in-hospital mortality (P < 0.0001) and long-term survival (P < 0.0001) in univariate analysis.
- Multivariate analysis confirmed RDW as a significant predictor of in-hospital mortality and long-term survival.
- RDW remained a significant predictor of mortality and survival even in patients without anemia.
Conclusions:
- RDW is a significant independent predictor of both in-hospital mortality and long-term survival following isolated CABG.
- The underlying mechanisms linking RDW to adverse outcomes in CABG patients require further research.
Objectives:
The red cell distribution width (RDW) has been identified as an independent risk factor with regard to prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease with or without heart failure. We sought to investigate the role of RDW in patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).
Methods:
Analysis of consecutive patients on a validated prospective cardiac surgery database was performed for patients undergoing isolated CABG. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed for in hospital mortality, long-term survival, length of hospital stay, length of intensive care unit stay and creatinine kinase muscle-brain (CKMB) release.
Results:
Overall mortality was 2.1% for all cases, N = 8615. Median follow up was 5.8 years. Univariate analysis demonstrated that the RDW has a significant effect on CKMB release, P = 0.001, in-hospital mortality, P < 0.0001, and long-term survival, P < 0.0001, but no significant effect on the ITU length of stay, P = 0.9, or hospital length of stay, P = 0.2. Multivariate analysis revealed that the RDW was a significant factor determining in-hospital mortality and long-term survival, but had no significant effect on CKMB release, ITU or hospital length of stay. Confounding factor analysis revealed that in the absence of anaemia, the RDW was still a significant factor determining in-hospital mortality and long-term survival.
Conclusions:
The RDW is a significant factor determining in-hospital mortality and long-term survival in patients undergoing isolated CABG. The mechanism of association requires further study.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Coronary Artery Disease V: Interprofessional Care
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction