Red blood cell distribution width is a short-term mortality predictor in middle-aged and older adults with hip fracture.

Abstract

Objective: To study the relationship between red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and short-term mortality of hip fracture in middle-aged and older adults.

Methods: A retrospective cohort of electronic medical records at a single hospital over a 2-year period between 2020 and 2021. We received the records of 233 patients aged > 50 years who suffered from hip fracture. the clinical data including patients demographics, comorbidities at the time of admission, type of surgery, blood examination, 3-months mortality, 6-months mortality and 1-year mortality. the relationship between RDW and short-term mortality of hip fracture were analyzed. the cohort was then divided into two groups based on their RDW levels at the time of admission: low (RDW < 13.6%) and high (RDW ≥ 13.6%).

Results: Results the mean age was 78.03 ± 12.09 years; 64.81% were woman. At admission, 80 patients (34.33%) had high RDW levels and 153 patients (65.67%) had low RDW levels. there were no statistically significant differences between the groups with regard to sex, type of operation, duration of surgery and hospitalization length. Patients with high RDW had more comorbidities when compared to patients with low RDW levels (p < 0.05). All-cause mortality was higher for patients with high RDW levels, at 3 months (p < 0.05), 6 months (p < 0.05), and 12 months (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: RDW is significantly related with short-term mortality in hip fracture. The higher RDW, the higher risk of mortality.