Assessment of relationship between red blood cell distribution width and renal function in patients with acute heart failure

Objectives: To investigate the association between Red Blood Cell Distribution Width (RDW) and renal function in patients experiencing acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical records of 254 patients admitted to Seyyed Al-Shohada Hospital in Urmia, Iran, between July 2021 and July 2023. Patients' RDW values and Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) were analyzed using statistical methods. Results: The study revealed a significant inverse relationship between RDW and GFR. Patients with elevated RDW levels (greater than 14.5%) demonstrated reduced GFR values compared to those with lower RDW levels. The mean GFR in patients with RDW ≤14.5% was 59.31 ml/min, while in patients with RDW >14.5% it was 49.71 ml/min (p < 0.001). Conclusions: RDW is an important biomarker for evaluating renal function and predicting outcomes in ADHF patients. RDW inclusion in evaluating ADHF patients could improve risk stratification and facilitate early intervention. Additional studies are necessary to validate these findings and examine the underlying mechanisms. RDW Integration into routine clinical practice may enhance the identification of patients at higher risk for renal complications, enabling timely therapeutic interventions and potentially improving overall patient management and outcomes.