Tibebu, Melatwork (2015) Clinical Utility of Red Cell Distribution Width in the Investigation of Non Hematological Disorders from May till August 2015, at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Case Control Study. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.
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Abstract
Background: Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a measurement of the degree of anisocytosis, or the degree of red cell size variability present in a blood sample. RDW has been reported as a significant diagnostic as well as prognostic lab marker for many non-hematological disorders. A study conducted in Addis Ababa showed that RDW was one of the less recognized and underutilized laboratory marker in clinical practice. Objective: To describe the clinical utility of RDW in the investigation of non hematological disorders at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: A Case-control and questionnaire based study was conducted at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A convenient sampling technique was employed and a total sample size of 150 ( 100 cases and 50 apparently healthy controls) and 100 clinicians were included from May to August, 2015. Cases were adult patients diagnosed with heart, liver and kidney diseases. RDW was determined using Sysmex XT-2000i Automated Hematology Analyzer. The data were entered in to Excel spread sheet and imported for analysis to SPSS version 19 software (SPSS INC, Chicago, IL, USA). Frequency, mean distribution, paired t test and chi square was calculated P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Result: Half of the clinicians had the Knowledge that elevated RDW could be an indication of non hematological diseases. However, 68% (68/100) of them rated that they rarely or never use RDW in the investigation or follow up of patients having non hematological diseases. Paired t test revealed mean difference of 2.53± 4.3 existed between the cases and control groups with a confidence interval of 1.314-3.76 (p<0.001). The association between the three diseases and elevated RDW was found to be statistically significant (P<0.05) with 95% confidence interval (0.000-0.030). The clinical laboratory method course for medicine students was rated as inadequate by the majority of them. Conclusion: RDW's clinical utility by clinicians at TASH in the investigation or follow up of patients with non hematological diseases was insufficient indicating that awareness should be created. Half of the clinicians had the knowledge that elevated RDW could be an indication ofnon hematological diseases yet failed to utilize it. Reason behind it is yet to be identified but the habit of utilizing RDW in the investigation of diseases other than anemia should be urged and encouraged.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | RDW, clinical utility, non-hematological disease |
| Subjects: | R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine |
| Divisions: | Africana |
| Depositing User: | Emmanuel Ndorimana |
| Date Deposited: | 29 Oct 2018 13:45 |
| Last Modified: | 29 Oct 2018 13:45 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/7101 |
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