Prognostic Value of Red Blood Cell Distribution Width and Hemoglobin in Patients with Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Background: The association between baseline red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and hemoglobin levels and outcomes after acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is not well studied. We aimed to investigate the association between baseline RDW and hemoglobin levels with early hematoma expansion (HE) and mortality at 3 months and 1 year in acute ICH patients.

Methods: A total of 393 ICH patients from January 2014 to February 2019 were included. Patients were divided into four groups based on quartiles of RDW and hemoglobin levels at admission, respectively. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the effect of the levels of RDW and hemoglobin on early HE (absolute hematoma growth >6 mL from baseline to follow-up) and allcaused mortality at 3 months and 1 year.

Results: There were no significant associations between baseline RDW and hemoglobin levels and early HE. The 3-month mortality (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.88; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.96-8.64) and 1-year mortality (adjusted OR 3.16, 95% CI 1.08-9.21) was significantly higher in patients with the highest RDW level (Q4) compared to those with the lowest RDW level (Q1). Moreover, patients with the lowest hemoglobin level were significantly associated with increased odds of all-cause mortality at 3-month (adjusted OR 3.95, 95% CI 1.26-12.4) and 1-year (adjusted OR 4.42, 95% CI 1.56-12.5) compared to those with highest hemoglobin level.

Conclusion: In patients with acute ICH, a higher level of RDW at admission significantly increased the risk of all-cause mortality at 1 year. Moreover, a decreased hemoglobin level at admission was also associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality at 3 months and 1 year.