Publication:

Study of the correlation between red blood cell parameters in the patients with coronary heart disease and heart failure

Background An increase of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) may have a certain effect to predict and evaluate the incidence and prognosis of coronary heart disease or chronic heart failure.

Methods Our retrospective study covered a total of 230 patients that were included due to a variety of indications for coronary angiography. Patients were defined into 2 categories; CAG (-) group (n=100), and CAG (+) group (n=130). The 2 groups were compared in order to investigate the differences between their RDW and other factors related and then further were sub-dived into 4 groups according to the NYHA functional class.

Results We observed that the patients in CAG (-) group 12.78±0.90; CAG (+) group 12.90±1.10 and had no significant difference in RDW. However higher RDW in patients with HF on all-cause was detected, 13.50±1.12 of group CAG (-)/NYHA II-IV and 13.39±1.31 of group CAG (+)/NYHA II-IV and there is statistical difference compared to group CAG (-)/NYHAI and group CAG (+)/NYHA I which were 12.80±0.47 and 12.87±0.69 respectively (P<0.001). There has no difference between the HF groups CAG (-)/NYHA II-IV and CAG (+)/NYHA II-IV group with (P=0.920), and no difference between groups without heart failure of (P=0.979).

Conclusions Although RDW had no predictive ability of coronary heart disease, but the elevation of RDW was highly and independently associated with chronic HF. Therefore, RDW can be clinically used as a parameter in risk stratification of patients with HF.