Red cell distribution width is correlated with all-cause mortality of patients in the coronary care unit

The predictive value of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) in patients in the coronary care unit (CCU) remains unknown. This study aimed to examine the prognostic value of RDW in these patients.

Clinical data were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-III database. Baseline data were collected within 24 hours after patients' first admission to the CCU. The outcomes of our study were 30-day and 90-day mortality.

A total of 8254 patients were included and their mean age was 66.9 ± 15.8 years (56% were men). For 30-day all-cause mortality, the hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) of the medium RDW (13.7-15.3) and high-RDW groups > 15.3) were 1.72 (1.55, 1.91) and 2.57 (2.33, 2.85), respectively, compared with the reference group in an unadjusted model. This association remained similar in multivariate models. Similar correlations were observed for 90-day all-cause mortality. The areas under the curve of RDW and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score were 0.625 and 0.692, respectively.

RDW is correlated with an increased risk of 30-day and 90-day mortality of patients in the CCU. The predictive value of RDW is not as good as that of the SOFA score.