Can red blood cell distribution width predict outcome after cardiac arrest?
Vito Fontana1, Savino Spadaro2, Paola Villois1
1Department of Intensive Care, Erasmus Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium.
Minerva Anestesiologica
|November 21, 2017
Summary
High red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is linked to poor neurological outcomes in cardiac arrest survivors. This finding suggests RDW may be a useful prognostic marker for these critically ill patients.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Neurology
- Hematology
Background:
- High red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with mortality in critically ill patients.
- Limited data exist on RDW's impact on outcomes following cardiac arrest (CA).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between RDW and long-term neurologic outcomes in survivors of cardiac arrest.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of adult patients admitted to ICU after non-traumatic CA (2007-2015).
- RDW measured daily for the first 3 days; unfavorable outcome defined as Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) score of 3-5 at 3 months.
- Excluded patients surviving less than 24 hours.
Main Results:
- 390 patients included; 56% ICU mortality and 64% unfavorable 3-month neurologic outcome.
- Median admission RDW was 14%, with 63% having high RDW (>13.4%).
- High admission RDW independently predicted unfavorable 3-month neurologic outcome in multivariable analysis.
Conclusions:
- Elevated RDW levels are significantly associated with poor neurologic outcomes in cardiac arrest survivors.
- RDW may serve as a prognostic indicator for neurologic recovery after cardiac arrest.
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