Association between Red blood cell distribution width and encephalitis based on the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit database: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background We aimed to explore the association between RDW and encephalitis in Chinese children on Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) database. Methods In a cross-sectional study, we analyzed a China-based PIC database spanning from 2010 to 2018. Children admitted to the PIC with encephalitis were included as participants to investigate the correlation between RDW and encephalitis. Additionally, multifactorial logistic regression, restricted cubic spline analysis models and stratified analyses were utilized to evaluate this relationship. Results A total of 10185 participants were enrolled, among whom the encephalitis prevalence was 1.7% (173/10185). Multivariate regression models revealed that encephalitis in Chinese children was significantly decreased by 18% with 1% increase in RDW after adjusting for all covariates. (Adjusted OR =0.82, 95% CI: 0.73~0.92). When the RDW was analyzed using quartiles, The adjusted OR (95% CI) of encephalitis for participants in the highest RDW Q4 (≥15.9%) were 0.44 (0.23~0.85), respectively. Compared with individuals with lower RDW Q1 (≤13%) (P for trend = 0.011). The association between RDW and childhood encephalitis was stable in the different subgroups ( P for interaction＞0.05). Interaction analysis revealed no interactive role in the association between RDW and encephalitis of the childhood. Conclusions Our study indicated that RDW was negatively associated with encephalitis in Chinese children. Furthermulticenter prospective studies are needed to validate our findings.