Predictive value of platelet distribution width on organ damage in patients with metabolic syndrome: a retrospective case-control study

OBJECTIVES: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of metabolic disorders characterized by damage to multiple organs. Platelet distribution width (PDW) has been used to assess the progression of several metabolic disorders, including left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and diabetic nephropathy (DN). Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of PDW in relation to organ damage in patients with MS. METHODS: The study included 151 patients with MS and 113 healthy controls. Clinicopathological data, including sex, age, abdominal circumference, blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI), were collected. The predictive potential of PDW was assessed by analyzing its correlation with MS progression, LVH, atherosclerosis, and kidney function. RESULTS: The analysis revealed that patients in the MS group had higher levels of BMI, abdominal circumference, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), triglycerides (TG), and fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), compared with controls. PDW was positively correlated with BMI, abdominal circumference, SBP, DBP, and FPG, and negatively correlated with HDL-C. FPG, SBP, and HDL-C were identified as independent parameters contributing to changes in PDW. Furthermore, heart function was positively related to PDW levels, while kidney function was negatively related. Logistic regression analysis further demonstrated that PDW was an independent risk factor for LVH, atherosclerosis, and kidney dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: PDW could serve as a promising predictive indicator for organ damage associated with the progression of MS.