High red blood cell distribution width is associated with the metabolic syndrome.

Abstract High values of Red Blood Cell Distribution Width (RDW) have been associated with adverse outcome in various clinical settings. The mechanism behind this association is not clear. The Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that increases the risk for cardiovascular disease and death. The aim of our study was to evaluate the association between high RDW and the MetS in a relatively large cohort of patients. A cohort of 3,529 consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography was used to evaluate the association between RDW and the MetS. The association was assessed by using a logistic regression. Cox's regression analysis was used to evaluate the impact of RDW on long term mortality. The mean age was 65 years (range 24-97), with 27% women. Overall, 30% were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. The prevalence of MetS was 29% in patients with RDW