AI Article Synopsis
- This study investigates the link between red cell distribution width (RDW) and the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, finding that higher RDW levels are associated with increased stroke incidence.
- Out of 41,140 patients monitored, 1,692 experienced a stroke over about 38,024 person-years, with stroke rates increasing across RDW quartiles, showing a significant relationship between higher RDW and stroke risk.
- The findings suggest that RDW can improve stroke risk prediction in atrial fibrillation patients, even above traditional risk factors like age and prior stroke history.
Article Abstract
Objective: Red cell distribution width is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We aimed to assess its association with stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Methods: By using the computerized database of the largest Health Maintenance Organization in Israel, we identified a cohort of adults with atrial fibrillation diagnosed before January 1, 2012. Eligible subjects were not taking anticoagulants at baseline and had at least 1 blood cell count performed in 2011 (41,140 subjects). The cohort was followed for the first occurrence of stroke until December 31, 2012.
Results: Overall, 1692 subjects developed stroke during 38,024 person-years of follow-up (stroke rate, 4.45 per 100 person-years). Stroke incidence rate increased across red cell distribution width quartiles: 3.26, 3.71, 5.01, and 6.05 per 100 person-years in the lowest (≤ 13.4%), second (13.4%-14.1%), third (14.1%-15.0%), and highest (>15%) red cell distribution width quartiles, respectively. On multivariate analysis adjusting for Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age ≥ 75, Diabetes, and Prior Stroke or TIA (doubled) (CHADS2) score risk factors, the hazard ratio for stroke was 1.29 (95% confidence interval, 1.17-1.42) in subjects with red cell distribution width >14.5% compared with those with values ≤ 14.5% and was similar in subjects with and without anemia. When analyzed as quartiles, the hazard ratio for stroke was 1.33 (confidence interval, 1.15-1.53) in the highest quartile compared with the lowest quartile and was similar in subjects with and without anemia. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.598 for (CHADS2) score and increased to 0.618 when red cell distribution width was included in the model (P < .001).
Conclusions: Red cell distribution width is directly associated with the risk of stroke regardless of anemia status and improves the predictive accuracy for stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2014.09.020 | DOI Listing |
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