Utilization of Red Blood Cell Distribution Width in Predicting Length of Stay in Patients Treated in Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit: A Cohort Study

Kadek Satrya Kurnia Suratna; R. Dylan; C. Sunur; Jeffry Jeffry; B. Oeiyano; F. M. Yofrido; D. U. Djafar; M. Luntungan

doi:10.30701/ijc.1316

Kadek Satrya Kurnia Suratna Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sam Ratulangi, Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou Hospital, Manado
R. Dylan Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sam Ratulangi, Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou Hospital, Manado
C. Sunur Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sam Ratulangi, Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou Hospital, Manado
Jeffry Jeffry Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sam Ratulangi, Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou Hospital, Manado
B. Oeiyano Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sam Ratulangi, Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou Hospital, Manado
F. M. Yofrido Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sam Ratulangi, Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou Hospital, Manado
D. U. Djafar Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sam Ratulangi, Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou Hospital, Manado
M. Luntungan Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sam Ratulangi, Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou Hospital, Manado

Keywords: Red Blood Cell Distribution Width, Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, Length of Stay, Prognostic Marker, Cardiac Critical Care

Abstract

Background: The risk stratification of mortality in critically ill patients with heart disease has long been available and validated. Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has traditionally been used in the differential diagnosis of anemias. High RDW is associated with worse outcomes in diverse scenarios, including in critical illness. This study aimed to investigate the correlation of RDW value with the length of Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CICU) stay.

Methods: This cohort study was conducted at Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou Hospital in Manado from February to May 2021. The study subjects were patients treated in the CICU. Statistical analysis was performed using Spearman’s correlation and linear regression.

Results: Among 97 patients studied, the median RDW-CV was 13.6% (IQR 12.7-15.3), and the median CICU length of stay was 2.0 days (IQR 2.0-4.5). RDW demonstrated a significant positive correlation with CICU length of stay (Spearman's ρ = 0.317, p = 0.002). Linear regression analysis revealed that each 1% increase in RDW was associated with a 0.213-day rise in length of stay (B = 0.213, β = 0.244, R² = 0.059, p = 0.016).

Conclusion: Higher RDW values are significantly associated with longer CICU stay. As an easily accessible parameter, RDW shows promise as a useful prognostic marker for risk stratification in cardiac critical care.

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