Akkoç MF, et al. - In patients with severe burns, a significant impact of both high red cell distribution width (RDW) and of hypoalbuminemia on the clinical outcomes was evident. For burn patients, both of these parameters are effective in ascertaining the clinical course, length of hospital stay, presence of catheters and medication treatment protocol.

• RDW was evaluated as a prognostic criterion in severe burns in this retrospective, descriptive correlational study.

• Of participants, half the sample included severe burns patients with high RDW and low albumin values, and the other half comprised severe burns with RDW within normal range and a prognostic criterion for which albumin level normal and closest to normal.

• In patients, the mean albumin level was 2.39 ± 0.34 g/dL, and the mean RDW level was 18.47 ± 6.15%, length of the stay in ICU was 13.45 ± 7.83 days, and duration of central venous catheter use was 23.41 ± 8.25 days.

• High RDW and low albumin values were identified to be linked with death, length of stay in the ICU, and more blood transfusion.