Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 12, 2026
06:39
Ultrasound Based Assessment of Coronary Artery Flow and Coronary Flow Reserve Using the Pressure Overload Model in Mice
Published on: April 13, 2015
15.8K
High red cell distribution width as a prognostic indicator in heart failure.
Sidhartha Gautam Senapati1, Azra Kothawala2, Vibhor Ahluwalia3
1Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, United States. senapati.sidhartha36@gmail.com.
World Journal of Methodology
|March 11, 2026
Summary
High red cell distribution width (RDW) significantly increases mortality risk in heart failure (HF) patients. This finding highlights RDW as a valuable biomarker for HF prognosis and risk stratification.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hematology
- Clinical Biomarkers
Background:
- Red cell distribution width (RDW) quantifies red blood cell size variability.
- Elevated RDW is linked to adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prognostic significance of high red cell distribution width (RDW) in patients diagnosed with heart failure (HF).
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was performed across PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar up to May 2024.
- Seven studies comprising 11,460 heart failure patients were included in this meta-analysis.
- All-cause mortality was the primary outcome, with heterogeneity and publication bias assessed.
Main Results:
- Patients in the highest RDW quartile (>15.21%) faced a 1.84-fold increased risk of all-cause mortality compared to the lowest quartile.
- Significant heterogeneity (I²=93%) and potential publication bias were noted.
- Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the findings.
Conclusions:
- High RDW is a reliable predictor of adverse outcomes in heart failure patients.
- RDW serves as a simple, cost-effective biomarker for risk stratification in HF.
- Further research is needed to explore RDW's underlying mechanisms and therapeutic implications in HF.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
706
Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is a rare heart muscle disease characterized by impaired ventricular filling due to stiffened ventricular walls, leading to significant diastolic dysfunction.EtiologyRestrictive cardiomyopathy can arise from both inherited and acquired diseases, many of which are systemic. It is categorized into four main types: infiltrative, storage, non-infiltrative, and endomyocardial diseases.Infiltrative diseases, such as amyloidosis, lead to RCM by depositing amyloid...
706
01:22Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
878
The key clinical manifestations of Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) include several distinct cardiac symptoms.Carditis, a hallmark of acute rheumatic fever, involves inflammation of the heart's endocardium, myocardium, and pericardium. Chronic RHD often results from recurrent episodes of carditis. Its symptoms include the following:Murmurs are caused by valvular damage, especially to the mitral and aortic valves. Mitral stenosis or regurgitation is common, with characteristic heart murmurs...
878
01:29Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology
1.2K
Systolic Heart Failure and Compensatory MechanismsSystolic heart failure (also termed HFrEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) is the most prevalent type of heart filure. It results in a decreased volume of blood being pumped from the ventricle. The aortic arch and carotid sinuses have baroreceptors that detect reduced blood pressure, triggering the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Initially, this response aims to boost heart rate and...
1.2K
01:20Rheumatic Heart Disease IV: Nursing Management
401
AssessmentA comprehensive assessment is essential in managing a patient with rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Begin with obtaining a detailed medical history, including recent streptococcal infections, a history of rheumatic fever, or previously diagnosed rheumatic heart disease. Assess the patient for symptoms such as fever, chest pain, widespread joint pain (arthralgia), tachycardia, pericardial friction rub, muffled heart sounds, heart murmurs, peripheral edema, subcutaneous nodules, and...
401
01:17Pathophysiology of Heart Failure
4.3K
Heart failure (HF) is a progressive syndrome involving ventricles that leads to inadequate cardiac output. It can be classified based on location and output or ejection fraction. Ejection fraction (EF) is an essential measurement in the diagnosis and surveillance of HF. Reduced EF corresponds to systolic heart failure (HFrEF). However, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming increasingly prevalent. Also known as diastolic HF, this form of HF is related to aging. The...
4.3K
01:30Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
698
Dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, is a progressive myocardial disorder characterized by ventricular chamber dilation and contractile dysfunction.EtiologyVarious factors can cause DCM, including hypertension and heavy alcohol intake, which contribute to the weakening and enlargement of the heart muscle. Viral infections, such as Coxsackievirus B, adenoviruses, and influenza, can lead to DCM by causing inflammation and damage to heart tissue. Certain chemotherapeutic agents, including daunorubicin,...
698