Outcome Prediction Value of Red Cell Distribution Width in Critically-ill Children

To study the association between red cell distribution width (RDW) and mortality in critically-ill children admitted in a Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

101 participants were recruited consecutively over 3 months. Data collected included demographics, vital parameters, laboratory values, severity and organ failure scores, RDW for the first 5 days of admission, duration of PICU stay and survival outcome.

11 patients died during study period. High RDW at admission (RDW D1) correlated significantly with mortality (P=0.007). The odds of death increased by 15 to 23 times with rise in RDW D1 from 18% to >21%. The optimal RDW D1 cut-off value for mortality was 18.6%, which yielded sensitivity 90.9%, specificity 70.8%, positive predictive value 27.8%, negative predictive value 98.4%, and area under curve (AUC) 0.83 (95%CI 0.737, 0.925). 29 out of 60 (48.3%) patients with RDW D4 >18% had PICU stay of ≥7 days.

High (≥18.6%) RDW at admission and its persistent high levels are associated with high mortality and prolonged stay in PICU, respectively.