Correlation of Early Total Leucocyte Count and Red Cell Distribution Width with Outcome in Trauma

Abstract

BACKGROUND Trauma is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in young adults. Risk stratification in these patients remains challenging even today. There is a need for a readily available simple prognostic method to categorise these patients and predict the morbidity. We intend to measure and correlate red cell distribution width and total leucocyte count in patients presenting with trauma, within 24 hours of injury, with the outcome. METHODS We included 52 haemodynamically stable, previously healthy, trauma patients who were admitted from November 2019 to April 2020, who did not require emergency surgery and analysed them prospectively. Complete blood picture obtained within 24 hours of injury was analysed in terms of correlation with outcome. The outcome was measured in terms of length of hospital stay. Correlations were performed with the Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS There was a statistically significant correlation between total leucocyte count (TLC) and length of hospital stay (P < 0.001). The positive correlation found between red cell distribution width (RDW) and length of hospital stay was not statistically significant. The analysis showed that high leucocyte count and red cell distribution width done within 24 hours of injury, increased patients’ stay in the hospital. CONCLUSIONS TLC and RDW can be used as readily available and simple markers, as an adjunct in early prediction of higher morbidity in patients presenting with trauma. KEY WORDS Injuries, Polytrauma, Blood Cell Count, Leucocytosis, Red Cell Indices