Red cell distribution width in heart failure: prediction of clinical events and relationship with markers of ineffective erythropoiesis, inflammation, renal function, and nutritional state.

Abstract

Here we validate the strong, independent prediction of morbidity and mortality in HF by RDW. The described correlations between RDW and inflammation, ineffective erythropoiesis, undernutrition, and impaired renal function may facilitate the understanding why this marker is associated with adverse outcomes in HF