Red blood cell distribution width in patients with limb, chest and head trauma

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: This study investigated the values of red blood cell distribution width (RDW), an emerging and independent predictor of morbidity and mortality, in patients with limb, chest and head trauma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study sample consisted of all patients who attended the emergency department (ED) of the University Hospital of Parma for limb, chest and head traumas requiring admission to hospital wards during the year 2014. The controls consisted of outpatients living in the same geographical area and undergoing routine laboratory testing for health check-up. RESULTS: = 0.005). Head trauma patients had a ~3-fold higher likelihood of increased RDW values than controls. The negative and positive predictive values of increased RDW for predicting the presence of head trauma were 0.90 (95% CI: 0.88-0.92) and 0.24 (95% CI: 0.19-0.30). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study highlight that RDW is increased in patients admitted to the ED with head trauma.