Introduction & Objective: Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia associated with increased risk of stroke, and can even cause death. A number of studies has reported the distribution of red blood cell distribution width as an independent factor in the prediction of the onset or outcome of the disease. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between AF and RDW .
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional analytical study, 50 patients with symptomatic permanent non-valvular AF hospitalized in the heart disease department of Semnan during a one-year period (2015 to 2016) and 50 non-afflicted patients were selected easily at convenience. Then, the completion of the study checklist included RDW related information was done by the researcher at the time of the morning and at the bedside of the hospitalized patient.
Results: The mean ± standard deviation of RDW values in patients with the permanent non-valvular AF was significantly higher than control group (14.74 ± 1.43 versus 13.96 ± 1.11 and P = 0.003). 30% of the afflicted patients and 14% of the control group had abnormal RDW values (more than 15%). Afflicted men had significantly higher RDW values than those of control group (14.72 ± 1.66 vs. 13.77± 0.82 and P = 0.017); however, for women, there was no any significant difference (14.75 ± 1.22 vs. 14.12 ± 1.32% and P = 0.80).
Conclusion: In general, the results of this study showed that RDW values were higher in patients with the permanent non-valvular atrial fibrillation.
