Red blood cell distribution width and haemoglobin are associated with hospital admission in patients with acute allergic reactions. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lippi, Giuseppe; Buonocore, Ruggero; Picanza, Alessandra; Schirosa, Fabio; Cervellin, Gianfranco
• Is Part Of: British journal of biomedical science. Volume 73:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 21
• Page End: 24
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: Allergy -- anaphylaxis -- emergency medicine -- RDW -- haemoglobin; Medical sciences -- Periodicals; Medical technology -- Periodicals; Biological Science Disciplines; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Medical Laboratory Science; Anatomie pathologique; Medical sciences; Medical technology; Klinische chemie; Laboratoriumonderzoek; Periodicals; Periodicals; 616.0756; 610.07 M489L
• DOI: 10.1080/09674845.2016.1140382
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0967-4845

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is significantly associated with a variety of human disorders. This study aimed to investigate whether RDW value at admission may predict the need of hospitalisation in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute allergic reactions. Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of adult patients (aged > 17) admitted to the ED for acute allergic reactions. Results: One hundred and thirty-two subjects were included, 12 of whom (9%) required hospital admission for severity of symptoms. Patients who needed hospital admission displayed significantly lower values of haemoglobin and significantly higher values of RDW-coefficient of variation (RDW-CV). In multivariate analysis, haemoglobin and RDW-CV were found to be independent predictors of hospital admission. The area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity for predicting hospital admission were 0.72, 0.88 and 0.42 for haemoglobin and 0.73, 0.88 and 0.50 for RDW-CV, respectively. The combination of these tests (both positive) was characterised by 0.76 AUC, 0.83 sensitivity, 0.67 specificity, 0.96 negative predictive value and 0.30 positive predictive. Discussion: The results of this study suggest that two common and inexpensive parameters such as haemoglobin and RDW are independent predictors of hospital admission in patients presenting to the ED with acute allergic reactions.