Red cell distribution width and mortality in carotid atherosclerosis

BackgroundRed cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with morbidity and mortality in chronic cardiac disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of RDW as a predictor of adverse outcome in patients with carotid atherosclerosis. Materials and methodsWe prospectively studied 1065 of 1286 consecutive patients with neurological asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis as assessed by duplex Doppler sonography. The study end points were all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality respectively. ResultsDuring a median follow-up time of 62years (interquartile range 59-66), corresponding to 5551 overall person-years, 275 patients (258%) died. Of them, 182 patients (662%) died due to cardiovascular causes. RDW was significantly associated with adverse outcome. In a continuous multivariate Cox regression analysis, the adjusted hazard ratio for each per cent increase in RDW was 139 (95% CI 127-153; P<0001) for all-cause and 143 (95% CI 128-160; P<0001) for cardiovascular mortality respectively. Kaplan-Meier estimates showed a gradual relationship between increasing quartiles of RDW and death (log rank P<0001). Adjusted hazard ratios for all-cause death ranged from 089 to 194 for the highest vs. the lowest quartile (P<0001 for trend) and for cardiovascular death from 108 to 234 for the highest vs. the lowest quartile (P<0001 for trend) respectively. ConclusionsRed cell distribution width was significantly and independently associated with all-cause and cardiovascular death in patients with asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis.