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The association between elevated preoperative red cell distribution width and worsening kidney function after noncardiac operation. A propensity score and competing risk weighted retrospective cohort study

Olafsson, Halldór B. ; Karason, Sigurbergur ; Magnusson, Magnus K. ; Indridason, Olafur S. ; Long, Thorir E. LU and Sigurðsson, Martin I. LU (2025) In BJA Open 13.
Abstract

Background: Elevated red cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with increased postoperative mortality, but less is known about kidney outcomes. This study investigated the association between elevated preoperative RDW and postoperative worsening of long-term kidney function and incidence of acute kidney injury. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients ≥18 yr undergoing noncardiac operation at Landspitali—The National University Hospital of Iceland between 2005 and 2018. Outcomes were compared between groups with elevated preoperative RDW (13.3–14.0%, 14.0–14.7%, 14.7–15.8%) and a propensity score-matched cohort (RDW ≤13.3%) using Fine–Gray competing risk regression analysis, with death as a competing event. The... (More)

Background: Elevated red cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with increased postoperative mortality, but less is known about kidney outcomes. This study investigated the association between elevated preoperative RDW and postoperative worsening of long-term kidney function and incidence of acute kidney injury. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients ≥18 yr undergoing noncardiac operation at Landspitali—The National University Hospital of Iceland between 2005 and 2018. Outcomes were compared between groups with elevated preoperative RDW (13.3–14.0%, 14.0–14.7%, 14.7–15.8%) and a propensity score-matched cohort (RDW ≤13.3%) using Fine–Gray competing risk regression analysis, with death as a competing event. The primary outcome was time to worsening of at least one estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) category sustained for 3 months. Secondary outcomes were acute kidney injury, length of hospital stay, and 30-day readmission rate. Results: Out of 63 056 operations included in this study, 55 724 were available for propensity score-matched analysis. The hazard of long-term eGFR worsening was higher for patients with RDW between 14.0% and 14.7%: hazard ratio (HR) 1.23 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13–1.35), 14.7% and 15.8%: HR 1.20 (95% CI 1.07–1.34), and >15.8%: HR 1.16 (95% CI 1.00–1.34) compared with matched controls (RDW <13.3%), adjusted for death as a competing event. For secondary outcomes there was no difference in acute kidney injury, but increased risk of readmission for patients with RDW of 14.0–14.7% (9.8% vs 8.5%, P=0.01), 14.7–15.8% (12.2% vs 10.1%, P=0.001), and >15.8% (14.9% vs 11.4%, P<0.001). Conclusions: Elevated preoperative RDW was associated with long-term worsening of eGFR category after operation.

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author
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publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
chronic inflammation, chronic kidney disease, noncardiac operation, preoperative, red cell distribution width, renal outcomes, worsening kidney function
in
BJA Open
volume
13
article number
100380
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:40104677
  • scopus:85218871811
DOI
10.1016/j.bjao.2025.100380
language
English
LU publication?
no
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Authors
id
f54870c5-bfb7-446f-b75c-29c8225ec4c4
date added to LUP
2025-03-09 16:40:58
date last changed
2025-06-30 02:41:03
@article{f54870c5-bfb7-446f-b75c-29c8225ec4c4,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Elevated red cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with increased postoperative mortality, but less is known about kidney outcomes. This study investigated the association between elevated preoperative RDW and postoperative worsening of long-term kidney function and incidence of acute kidney injury. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients ≥18 yr undergoing noncardiac operation at Landspitali—The National University Hospital of Iceland between 2005 and 2018. Outcomes were compared between groups with elevated preoperative RDW (13.3–14.0%, 14.0–14.7%, 14.7–15.8%) and a propensity score-matched cohort (RDW ≤13.3%) using Fine–Gray competing risk regression analysis, with death as a competing event. The primary outcome was time to worsening of at least one estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) category sustained for 3 months. Secondary outcomes were acute kidney injury, length of hospital stay, and 30-day readmission rate. Results: Out of 63 056 operations included in this study, 55 724 were available for propensity score-matched analysis. The hazard of long-term eGFR worsening was higher for patients with RDW between 14.0% and 14.7%: hazard ratio (HR) 1.23 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13–1.35), 14.7% and 15.8%: HR 1.20 (95% CI 1.07–1.34), and &gt;15.8%: HR 1.16 (95% CI 1.00–1.34) compared with matched controls (RDW &lt;13.3%), adjusted for death as a competing event. For secondary outcomes there was no difference in acute kidney injury, but increased risk of readmission for patients with RDW of 14.0–14.7% (9.8% vs 8.5%, P=0.01), 14.7–15.8% (12.2% vs 10.1%, P=0.001), and &gt;15.8% (14.9% vs 11.4%, P&lt;0.001). Conclusions: Elevated preoperative RDW was associated with long-term worsening of eGFR category after operation.</p>}},
  author       = {{Olafsson, Halldór B. and Karason, Sigurbergur and Magnusson, Magnus K. and Indridason, Olafur S. and Long, Thorir E. and Sigurðsson, Martin I.}},
  keywords     = {{chronic inflammation; chronic kidney disease; noncardiac operation; preoperative; red cell distribution width; renal outcomes; worsening kidney function}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{BJA Open}},
  title        = {{The association between elevated preoperative red cell distribution width and worsening kidney function after noncardiac operation. A propensity score and competing risk weighted retrospective cohort study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bjao.2025.100380}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.bjao.2025.100380}},
  volume       = {{13}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}