The relationship between red blood cell distribution width and islet β-cell function indexes in patients with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults

Aims The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between red blood cell distribution and islet beta-cell function indexes in patients with Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults. Methods A total of 487 LADA patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Patients were divided into three groups according to RDW tertiles. Clinical and laboratory measurements of age, height, weight, duration of diabetes, blood pressure, RDW, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), C-peptide and blood lipids were performed. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and homeostasis model assessment of beta-cell function (HOMA-beta) were assessed using homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) based on fasting blood glucose (FBG) and fasting C-peptide index (FCP). Correlations and multiple linear regressions were implemented to determine the association of RDW and islet function indexes. Results As the increase of serum RDW level, the presence of beta-cell secretion increased(P < 0.05). Correlation analysis indicated that there were significant correlations between RDW and male sex, age, duration, TG, Cr, FCP, and HOMA-beta in all subjects. Multiple linear regressions indicated that RDW was significantly correlated with HOMA-beta in the total population in both unadjusted and adjusted analysis. This finding could be reproduced in the subgroup of low GAD titers for HOMA-beta. RDW were significantly associated with HbA1c in LADA patients with high GAD titers, but the correlation was not found in subgroup with low GAD titers in either unadjusted analyses or adjusted analysis. Conclusions RDW is associated with beta-cell function assessed by HOMA-beta after adjusting for covariates in LADA patients with low GAD titers.