Background
Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) could be a risk factor for developing various chronic diseases, and seems to be a prognostic marker in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) or cancer. Our aim was to explore the association between RDW and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a general population.
Methods
RDW was measured in 27,063 participants (aged 45-73 years) from the population-based Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort. After a follow-up of 19.8±5.5 years, Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to study the relationship between RDW and all-cause and cause-specific mortality, with adjustment for potential confounders.
Results
A total of 9388 individuals (4715 men and 4673 women) died during the follow up. Subjects with higher RDW had a significant higher risk for mortality, which remained significant after adjustment for potential confounders (HR, 4th vs. 1st of sex-specific quartile: 1.34, 95%CI:1.24-1.45). RDW was significantly associated with cancer mortality (HR, 4th vs. 1st: 1.27, 95%CI:1.12-1.44), CVD mortality (HR:1.39, 95%CI:1.21-1.59), and respiratory disease mortality (HR:1.47, 95%CI:1.06-2.03).
Conclusions
High RDW is associated with increased all-cause and cause-specific mortality. We propose that high RDW is a significant, but non-specific marker of mortality risk in the general population.

05 - THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RED BLOOD CELL DISTRIBUTION WIDTH AND ALL-CAUSE AND CAUSE-SPECIFIC MORTALITY IN A GENERAL POPULATION