Distribution Width of Red Blood Cells and Related Factors Among Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: RDW is critical to the clinical diagnosis and progression of ESRD. There is currently little data on the relationship between RDW and ESRD in sub-Saharan Africa. Because of this, the present study evaluates RDW in patients with ESRD and associated factors in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. METHODS: The hospital-based cross-sectional study design was conducted on a total of 83 patients. RDW, MCV, SCR, BUN, GFR, FBS and serum albumin were determined. Blood pressure (mmHg), weight (kg), height (m), MUAC (cm) and BMI (kg/m2) were also measured. Data entry was via Epi-data version 3.4 and analyzed with SPSS version 26.0. A multivariate logistic regression analysis with a p-value < 0.05 at a 95% confidence interval was used to identify the associated factors of RDW. RESULTS: A total of 83 ESRD patients participated, with a response rate of 95.4%. RDW ranged from 15.5% to 23.6% with a mean of 17.40% + 1.46%. Anisocytosis was present in 98.8% of patients. Of 83 patients, 66.3% were hypertensive, 20.5% had diabetes, and the remaining 13.3% had other conditions (glomerulonephritis and peripheral vascular disease). The mean GFR value was 5.20 mL/min/1.73 + 1.58. RDW showed a significant association with GFR (AOR: 4.6, 95% CI [1.27, 20.74], P = 0.047), alcohol consumption (AOR: 13.4, P = 0.012, 95% CI [1.97, 22.62]), recurrent kidney disease (AOR=25.6, P=0.016, 95% CI [1.85, 53.71]) and use of medication (AOR=00.2, P=0.044), 95% CI [0.03, 0.95]). CONCLUSION: RDW showed a significant association with GFR, recurrent kidney disease, alcohol consumption, and medication use in hemodialysis-dependent ESRD patients. The mechanisms of RDW disruption in ESRD patients need further investigation.