Study of correlation of red cell distribution width with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Acute exacerbation of COPD is one of the most common disease in patients with infections, having frequent hospitalization. The aim of this study is to find whether there is any relationship between RDW with mortality in AECOPD. The hospital based case control Study is was conduct on hospitalized 50 patient with primary and final diagnosis of AECOPD and 50 patient of stable period of COPD. Socio-demographic variable in both groups were comparable. BMI was significantly lower in AECOPD patients. The mean PACK/YR in AECOPD group was 24.44±6.23 and in Stable COPD was 20.66±8.21. Mean admission per year were significantly higher in AECOPD patients (1.88±0.80 per year) as compare to stable COPD patients (0.80±0.67 per year). Mean FEV1 % was significantly lower in AECOPD patients (43.87±14.26) as compare to stable COPD patients (48.12±20.18). Mean RDW significantly higher in AECOPD (17.60±5.70%) as compare to stable COPD patients (13.80±3.33%). The difference in both groups was found statistically significant. MCV was significantly lower in AECOPD (82.04±1.49) as compare to stable COPD patients (86.50±1.87). The difference in both groups was found statistically significant. RDW was significantly higher in those patient who were died (19.50±0.70%) as compare to survived patients (17.52±5.61%). The difference in both groups was found statistically significant. 4.00% hospital mortality in AECOPD group. We have concluded that the mean red cell distribution width on the day of presenting the illness was significantly higher in AECOPD as compare to stable COPD. Those patients who had a high red cell distribution width during admission were associated with poor prognosis.