Can Platelet Count and Mean Platelet Volume and Red Cell Distribution Width Be Used as a Prognostic Factor for Mortality in Intensive Care Unit?

Introduction Critical patients are those patients who have psychological unstability that can cause morbidity and mortality in a short period of time. These patients need to be intensively monitored for organ function like cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological system. The most critical patients are transferred to intensive care unit (ICU) for close watch. It is not rare that hematological system of critical patient is affected from strong inflammation. The main purpose of this study is to be able to determine platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV) and red cell distribution width (RDW) admission value to predict mortality in ICU. Secondary purpose is to present a view about clinical use of these blood parameters. Material and methods In this study, RDW, MPV and PLT values of the patients in the first intensive care admission were evaluated and were compared with the last hemogram values before death. Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) and other risk factors for mortality were tried to be determined to show determinants of scoring systems on mortality in patients admitted to ICU. Results When compared with ICU entry in all patient groups and laboratory markers prior to exitus, the value of the input RDW was 14.66 ± 3.08 and the output RDW was 15.94 ± 9.59. Admission value of MPV was 8.180 ± 2.09, and before death the value of MPV was 9.199 ± 2.24. Statistically, it was significantly high (p < 0.001). The MPV values increased in all groups and cerebrovascular disease (CVD), respiratory failure, cardiac causes, head trauma and malignancies were statistically significantly high (p < 0.05). Admission value of PLT was 215.46 ± 116.8, and before death the value of PLT was 154.73 ± 101.32. Statistically, it was significantly low (p < 0.001). Conclusions The study showed that the difference between PLT, MPV and RDW values in the ICU and values before death, and decrease in PLT and increase in MPV and RDW in all patients were statistically significant. We believe that decrease in PLT, increase in MPV and RDW is a prognostic factor for mortality.