Value of red cell distribution width in predicting the severity and prognosis of community acquired pneumonia

  Objective  To investigate the predictive value of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) in the severity and prognosis of elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

  Methods  A total of 91 elderly patients with CAP were divided into common group (n=71) and the severe group (n=20). The levels of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP) and RDW were compared between the two groups; the risk factors of death in elderly patients with CAP were analysed by multivariate regression analysis, and the Receiver Operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn; the predictive value of RDW for death in elderly patients with CAP was evaluated.

  Results  The levels of RDW, CRP and PCT in the severe group were significantly higher than those in the common group (P < 0.05). RDW was the high risk factor of mortality in elderly patients with CAP. The area under the curve (AUC) of RDW in predicting death of elderly patients with CAP was 0.754, the sensitivity was 75.00%, and the specificity was 70.89%.

  Conclusion  RDW has predictive value in evaluating the severity and prognosis of elderly patients with CAP.