Red cell distribution width-A mortality predictor in older adults with proximal femoral fracture

Identifying elderly patients with proximal femoral fractures (PFF) who are at risk of postoperative mortality may influence the treatment decision-making process. The purpose of this study was to examine whether red blood cell distribution width (RDW) can serve as a predictor of postoperative mortality in these patients.

A retrospective cohort study of electronic medical records at a single tertiary care hospital over a 3-year period between 2015 and 2018. We reviewed the records of 1574 patients aged > 65 years who underwent surgical treatment for PFF and who's preoperative RDW levels were available. Data collected consisted of patient demographics, underlying illnesses at the time of admission, type of procedure performed as well as postoperative mortality and complications over the course of a 1-year follow-up period. The cohort was then divided into two groups based on their RDW levels at the time of admission: low (<14.5%) and high (>14.5%).

The mean age was 90.77±1.87 years; 68.7% were women. Majority of patients (69.1%) underwent closed reduction internal fixation; 414 (26.4%) underwent hemiarthroplasty, and 71 (4.5%) had total hip arthroplasty. At admission, 576 patients (36.6%) had high RDW levels and 998 (63.4%) had low RDW levels. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups with regard to age, gender, type of surgery, or duration. Patients with high RDW had more co-morbidities (p<0.001) and more abnormal laboratory test results when compared to patients with low RDW. Overall mortality rate within 1-year post-surgery was 17.5% (276 patients). All-cause mortality was greater for patients with high baseline RDW, at 3 months (p = 0.001), 6 months (p<0.0001), and 1-year post-surgery (p<0.0001). Forty-four (2.8%) patients had surgical site infection (SSI) without any significant association to baseline RDW levels.

Preoperative RDW levels, when combined with clinical and laboratory findings, may help to improve the risk stratification of older patients who are candidates for PFF. With further research, a treatment algorithm could be developed to potentially identify patients at high risk of preoperative mortality, allowing for more conservative management.