Longitudinal Changes In Red Blood Cell Distribution Width Decades After Radiation Exposure In Atomic-Bomb Survivors

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW), which generally increases with age, is a risk marker for morbidity and mortality in various diseases. We investigated the association between elevated RDW and prior radiation exposure by examining longitudinal RDW changes in 4204 atomic-bomb survivors over 15 years. A positive association was found between RDW and radiation dose, wherein RDW increased by 0 center dot 18%/Gy. This radiation-associated effect increased as the participants aged. Elevated RDW was also associated with higher all-cause mortality. The biological mechanisms underlying these observed associations merit further investigation.