Red cell distribution width (RDW), an automated measure of variability in red blood cell size on full blood count (FBC), has recently emerged as a strong independent predictor of mortality in large population studies as well as several disease states. We wanted to determine the prognostic value of RDW in patients following a hip fracture - a condition associated with high mortality. This relationship has not been assessed to date. We examined the relationship between admission RDW and all-cause mortality on 1-year follow-up, in consecutive hip fracture cases who presented between January 2007 and November 2009. We used Cox regression analysis to adjust for baseline Haemoglobin (Hb), Mean corpuscular Volume (MCV), creatinine, age, gender, ASA grade, Charlson index, pre-morbid independence level, Mental test score (MTS), delay to surgery and post-operative cardio-respiratory complication.Background
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