Can We Use Red Cell Distribution as A Marker of Mortality in Acute Myocardial Infarcts?

Abstract

Introduction: Red cell distribution width (RDW) is elevated in ischemic diseases and it is reported that this elevation is associated with mortality in this process. In this study, it is aimed to investigate the place of Red cell distribution width in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction and short-term effect on mortality in the patients presenting with chest pain.

Materials and methods: The study was performed retrospectively between 1 July 2013 - 31 December 2013. Age, gender, Red cell distribution width, the affected cardiac region, and cardiac mortality levels of the patients with chest pain who were included in the study were examined. In the descriptive statistics of data; mean, standard deviation, and frequency ratio values were used. In the analysis of quantitative data, Mann-Whitney U test was used. Results were evaluated at 95% confidence interval, significance were evaluated at p <0.05.

Results: The median age of patients with Acute myocardial infarction was 69 (Range = 65) and 230 of whom (68.9%) were male) in the study. Red Cell Distribution Width was significantly higher in the group with diagnosis of Acute myocardial infarction (p <0.05). The most frequently seen myocardial infarctus type was anterior myocardial infarction (23.8%) whereas hypertension has been found to be accompanied. Red Cell Distribution Width was significantly higher in the patients who died with a diagnosis of Acute myocardial infarction.

Conclusion: As a result, the Red cell distribution width level, can be considered as statistically significant in patients with Acute myocardial infarction and is a parameter that may be associated with mortality.