Relationship between red blood cell-related indices and coronary artery calcification.

BACKGROUND

Red blood cell (RBC) indices such as RBC count and RBC distribution width (RDW) are associated with heart failure and coronary artery disease, but the relationship between RBC indices and coronary artery calcification (CAC) is unclear. This study aimed to investigate RBC indices' correlation with, and predictive value for, the presence and severity of CAC.

METHODS

In this study, 1257 hospitalized patients who received a coronary computed tomography angiography examination were finally selected. Patients were classified into a control group (without CAC, n = 655) and a calcification group (with CAC, n = 602) according to their CAC score. The calcification group was further divided into a low calcification group, medium calcification group, and high calcification group.

RESULTS

In the calcification group, the RBC count was lower, and the RDW-standard deviation (SD) and RDW-coefficient of variation (CV) were higher, than those in the control group (P < .05). In the high calcification group, the RBC count was significantly lower, and the RDW-SD and RDW-CV were significantly higher, than those in the low calcification group (P < .05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that RBC count, RDW-SD, and RDW-CV were independent predictors of CAC presence. Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression analysis also showed that RBC count and RDW-SD were independent predictors of severe CAC.

CONCLUSIONS

RBC indices were significantly associated with the presence and severity of CAC, indicating that these RBC indices have the potential to be predictors of CAC.