SCIENTIFIC HUB

Follow the evidence.

SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE · MED

Red blood cell distribution width: Genetic evidence for aging pathways in 116,666 volunteers.

PLoS One · 2017-09-28

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185083PMID: 28957414

Open accessresearch-article; Journal ArticleOriginal source ↗

Research overview

The text below is the source article’s original abstract under a verified reuse license. cc by

IntroductionVariability in red blood cell volumes (distribution width, RDW) increases with age and is strongly predictive of mortality, incident coronary heart disease and cancer. We investigated inherited genetic variation associated with RDW in 116,666 UK Biobank human volunteers.ResultsA large proportion RDW is explained by genetic variants (29%), especially in the older group (60+ year olds, 33.8%, ConclusionsAlthough increased RDW is predictive of cardiovascular outcomes, this was not explained by known CVD or related lipid genetic risks, and a RDW genetic score was not predictive of incident disease. The predictive value of RDW for a range of negative health outcomes may in part be due to variants influencing fundamental pathways of aging.

Scientific assessment

01

Research question

Assess the question within the original study’s scope.

02

Methods & sample

Check the source article for study design and sample details.

03

Key findings

An editorially approved findings summary is not yet published for this record.

04

Limitations

Generalizability, bias and clinical meaning require separate assessment.

Methods, samples and clinical conclusions are not inferred from bibliographic metadata.