The association between week-one red blood cell distribution width and one-year survival in critically ill patients: propensity score-based multicenter analysis

Abstract Background Red blood cell distribution width (RDW), a marker of erythrocyte size variability, has been associated with adverse outcomes in various inflammatory and critical illnesses, but the impact on long-term outcomes in critically ill patients remains unclear. We hence aimed to address...

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Main Authors: Shang-Yi Lee, Li-Ting Wong, Wen-Cheng Chao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:European Journal of Medical Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02839-2
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author Shang-Yi Lee
Li-Ting Wong
Wen-Cheng Chao
author_facet Shang-Yi Lee
Li-Ting Wong
Wen-Cheng Chao
author_sort Shang-Yi Lee
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Red blood cell distribution width (RDW), a marker of erythrocyte size variability, has been associated with adverse outcomes in various inflammatory and critical illnesses, but the impact on long-term outcomes in critically ill patients remains unclear. We hence aimed to address the association between RDW and one-year mortality in critically ill patients through using a propensity score-based analysis. Methods The data from three databases were aggregated: the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV), the Salzburg Intensive Care database (SICdb), and the Taichung Veterans General Hospital (TCVGH) critical care database. Cox regression, propensity score matching (PSM), and weighting methods consisting of inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), stabilized IPTW, as well as covariate balancing propensity score (CBPS) were used to identify the independent association between RDW and one-year mortality. Results A total of 39,699 critically ill patients were included in the analysis, with a one-year mortality rate of 27.3%. High RDW was significantly associated with increased one-year mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 1.980, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.898–2.066, p < 0.001) after adjusting for covariates. The association was stronger among patients with milder forms of critical illnesses. The association between high RDW and mortality in PSM, IPTW, stabilized IPTW and CBPS populations were 1.751 (95% CI 1.627–1.885), 1.960 (95% CI 1.873–2.051), 1.962 (95% CI 1.875–2.052) and 1.946 (95% CI 1.845–2.053). Conclusion Week-one RDW is a robust predictor of one-year mortality in critically ill patients. Our data suggest that RDW may serve as a prognostic tool for early risk stratification of long-term outcomes in critical care.
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spelling doaj-art-1182d4cac26f42e9ac0f2cdd4e5153c02025-08-20T04:01:25ZengBMCEuropean Journal of Medical Research2047-783X2025-07-0130111110.1186/s40001-025-02839-2The association between week-one red blood cell distribution width and one-year survival in critically ill patients: propensity score-based multicenter analysisShang-Yi Lee0Li-Ting Wong1Wen-Cheng Chao2Department of Anesthesiology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital Puli BranchDepartment of Medical Research, Taichung Veterans General HospitalDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Taichung Veterans General HospitalAbstract Background Red blood cell distribution width (RDW), a marker of erythrocyte size variability, has been associated with adverse outcomes in various inflammatory and critical illnesses, but the impact on long-term outcomes in critically ill patients remains unclear. We hence aimed to address the association between RDW and one-year mortality in critically ill patients through using a propensity score-based analysis. Methods The data from three databases were aggregated: the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV), the Salzburg Intensive Care database (SICdb), and the Taichung Veterans General Hospital (TCVGH) critical care database. Cox regression, propensity score matching (PSM), and weighting methods consisting of inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), stabilized IPTW, as well as covariate balancing propensity score (CBPS) were used to identify the independent association between RDW and one-year mortality. Results A total of 39,699 critically ill patients were included in the analysis, with a one-year mortality rate of 27.3%. High RDW was significantly associated with increased one-year mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 1.980, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.898–2.066, p < 0.001) after adjusting for covariates. The association was stronger among patients with milder forms of critical illnesses. The association between high RDW and mortality in PSM, IPTW, stabilized IPTW and CBPS populations were 1.751 (95% CI 1.627–1.885), 1.960 (95% CI 1.873–2.051), 1.962 (95% CI 1.875–2.052) and 1.946 (95% CI 1.845–2.053). Conclusion Week-one RDW is a robust predictor of one-year mortality in critically ill patients. Our data suggest that RDW may serve as a prognostic tool for early risk stratification of long-term outcomes in critical care.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02839-2RDWCritical careDatabaseLong-term mortalityPropensity score
spellingShingle Shang-Yi Lee
Li-Ting Wong
Wen-Cheng Chao
The association between week-one red blood cell distribution width and one-year survival in critically ill patients: propensity score-based multicenter analysis
European Journal of Medical Research
RDW
Critical care
Database
Long-term mortality
Propensity score
title The association between week-one red blood cell distribution width and one-year survival in critically ill patients: propensity score-based multicenter analysis
title_full The association between week-one red blood cell distribution width and one-year survival in critically ill patients: propensity score-based multicenter analysis
title_fullStr The association between week-one red blood cell distribution width and one-year survival in critically ill patients: propensity score-based multicenter analysis
title_full_unstemmed The association between week-one red blood cell distribution width and one-year survival in critically ill patients: propensity score-based multicenter analysis
title_short The association between week-one red blood cell distribution width and one-year survival in critically ill patients: propensity score-based multicenter analysis
title_sort association between week one red blood cell distribution width and one year survival in critically ill patients propensity score based multicenter analysis
topic RDW
Critical care
Database
Long-term mortality
Propensity score
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02839-2
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