Introduction: Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and mean platelet volume (MPV) are both new biomarkers for the prognosis of many diseases. This study aimed to observe the predictive values of RDW and MPV for weight loss after different metabolic surgeries in patients with obesity and abnormal glucose metabolism [diabetes mellitus or impaired glucose regulation (DM/IGR)].
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI) and blood routine index of 98 patients with obesity and DM/IGR who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) or sleeve gastrectomy (SG).
Results: Levels of RDW and MPV in both groups were significantly higher than before 1 month after surgery and then gradually decreased. Twelve months after surgery, the RDW level in the RYGB group was significantly lower than that before surgery. In the RYGB group, the RDW level of patients in the high-level percentage weight loss (%BW) (≥ 31.90) at 6 and 12 months after surgery decreased significantly compared to those in the corresponding low level. %BW and change in BW and BMI (ΔBW and ΔBMI) at 6 and 12 months after surgery in the high-level RDW (≥ 12.90) before surgery were significantly higher than those in the low level in the RYGB group. No significant difference in weight index was found in the high and low levels of the MPV before surgery in either group at other follow-up time points.
Conclusions: Preoperative baseline RDW and postoperative RDW levels can preliminarily predict the effect of different metabolic surgeries in patients with obesity and DM/IGR.
Keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Impaired glucose regulation; Mean platelet volume; Metabolic surgery; Obesity; Red blood cell distribution width.