Red blood cell distribution width as prognostic factor in sepsis: A new use for a classical parameter.

PURPOSE: To evaluate Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) as a sepsis prognostic biomarker.

METHODS

203 septic patients admitted to the ICU. Analysis of RDW dynamics, hospital mortality discrimination ability and the added value when incorporated to the SOFA, LODS, SAPS-II and APACHE-II scores using the AUC-ROC.

RESULTS

Non-survivors presented higher RDW values during the first week after ICU admission (p = 0.048). Only SOFA and RDW were independently associated with mortality when adjusted by Charlson, immunosuppression, nosocomial infection, NEWS2, SAPS-II, septic shock and haemoglobin (p < 0.05). After adjustment, AUC-ROC was 0.827, 0.822, 0.824, 0.834 and 0.812 for each model including admission, 24, 48 and 72-h and 7-days RDW, respectively. When added to the scores, 24-h RDW and admission RDW improved their discrimination ability (SOFA AUC-ROC = 0.772 vs 0.812 SOFA + admission RDW, p = 0.041; LODS AUC-ROC = 0.687 vs 0.710, p = 0.002; SAPS-II AUC-ROC = 0.734 vs 0.785, p = 0.021; APACHE-II AUC-ROC = 0.672 vs 0.755, p = 0.003). Admission RDW with SOFA presented the better discrimination ability for mortality.

CONCLUSION

RDW is an independent prognostic marker of death in septic patients admitted in the ICU that improves SOFA, LODS, APACHE-II and SAPS-II discrimination ability. This parameter could be incorporated to the prognostic scores as a marker of systemic dysfunction and dysregulated inflammatory response.