Association of red blood cell distribution width to albumin ratio with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among adults with MASLD
A simple blood ratio predicting death risk in liver disease patients—using routinely measured markers—could better identify who needs intensive monitoring.
In 6,287 MASLD patients from NHANES (n=1,161 all-cause deaths, n=324 CV deaths over 9.2 years), higher RDW-to-albumin ratio was independently associated with more than doubled all-cause mortality and more than tripled cardiovascular mortality. RAR is a routinely measured composite of inflammation and nutritional status that could improve MASLD risk stratification in clinical practice.
What the study was
- Study design
- Retrospective NHANES cohort analysis (1999–2018)
- Population
- 6,287 adults with MASLD from NHANES 1999–2018; median follow-up 9.2 years
- Sample size
- 6287
- Category
- Diagnostics
- Maturity
- Exploratory
- Journal
- BMC Gastroenterol
Why it surfaced
Large NHANES dataset with hard mortality endpoints; RAR is novel but composite of routine tests. MASLD is a high-prevalence condition. Observational association; causality not established.
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