Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a chronic respiratory disease that affects the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe. The present study was conducted to assess the correlation between red cell distribution width (RDW) with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Materials & Methods: 126 COPD patients of both genders were selected. The estimation of RDW, RBC count and CBC was done. Results: There were 38 AECOPD males and 20 females and 40 stable COPD males and 18 females. In AECOPD and stable COPD, symptoms were breathlessness in 42 and 24, cough in 37 and 21, expectoration in 32 and 34, wheezing in 48and 25 and chest painin 51 and 37 respectively. Smokers were 34 and 20, non-smokers were 10 and 8 and ex- smokers were 14 and 30. mMRC grade1 was seen in 4 and 0, 2 in 8 and 12, 3 in 14 and 38 and 4 in 32 and 8. GOLD stageA was seen in 2 and 4, B in 6 and 8, C in 12 and 20 and D in 38 and 26. RDW was 10%-20% in 41 and 38 and 21%-30% in 17 and 20 respectively. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). The mean RDW was significantly higher in death(19.5%) as compared to survived patients (17.2%). Conclusion: In AECOPD compared to stable COPD, the mean red cell distribution width on the day of illness presentation was considerably greater. Patients having a large red cell distribution width upon admission had a worse chance of surviving.