scholarly journals Red blood cell distribution width as a prognostic biomarker for viral infections: prospects and challenges

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oloche Owoicho ◽  
Kesego Tapela ◽  
Charles O Olwal ◽  
Alexandra L Djomkam Zune ◽  
Nora N Nganyewo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Cell ◽  
Risk Prediction ◽  
Red Blood Cell ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Prognostic Biomarker ◽  
Predictive Biomarker ◽  
Viral Diseases ◽  
Cell Distribution ◽  
Distribution Width ◽  
Red Blood Cell Distribution

Viral diseases remain a significant global health threat, and therefore prioritization of limited healthcare resources is required to effectively manage dangerous viral disease outbreaks. In a pandemic of a newly emerged virus that is yet to be well understood, a noninvasive host-derived prognostic biomarker is invaluable for risk prediction. Red blood cell distribution width (RDW), an index of red blood cell size disorder (anisocytosis), is a potential predictive biomarker for severity of many diseases. In view of the need to prioritize resources during response to outbreaks, this review highlights the prospects and challenges of RDW as a prognostic biomarker for viral infections, with a focus on hepatitis and COVID-19, and provides an outlook to improve the prognostic performance of RDW for risk prediction in viral diseases.

scholarly journals Red Blood Cell Distribution Width, Disease Severity, and Mortality in Hospitalized Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 286
Author(s):  
Angelo Zinellu ◽  
Arduino A. Mangoni
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Blood Cell ◽  
Disease Severity ◽  
Red Blood Cell ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Severe Illness ◽  
Cell Distribution ◽  
Distribution Width ◽  
Red Blood Cell Distribution

The identification of biomarkers predicting disease severity and outcomes is the focus of intense research in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 infection). Ideally, such biomarkers should be easily derivable from routine tests. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the predictive role of the red blood cell distribution width (RDW), a routine hematological test, in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. We searched the electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus, from January 2020 to November 2020, for studies reporting data on the RDW and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity, defined as severe illness or admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), and mortality. Eleven studies in 4901 COVID-19 patients were selected for the meta-analysis. Pooled results showed that the RDW values were significantly higher in patients with severe disease and non-survivors (standard mean difference, SMD = 0.56, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.81, p < 0.001). Heterogeneity between studies was extreme (I2 = 80.6%; p < 0.001). In sensitivity analysis, the effect size was not modified when each study was in turn removed (effect size range, between 0.47 and 0.63). The Begg’s (p = 0.53) and Egger’s tests (p = 0.52) showed no evidence of publication bias. No significant correlations were observed between SMD and age, gender, whole blood count, end point, study geographic area, or design. Our meta-analysis showed that higher RDW values are significantly associated with COVID-19 severity and mortality. This routine parameter might assist with early risk stratification in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

scholarly journals Red blood cell distribution width is associated with incidence of atrial fibrillation

2013 ◽  
Vol 275 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Adamsson Eryd ◽  
Y. Borné ◽  
O. Melander ◽  
M. Persson ◽  
J. G. Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Blood Cell ◽  
Red Blood Cell ◽  
Cell Distribution ◽  
Distribution Width ◽  
Red Blood Cell Distribution
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