Monocyte distribution width (MDW) as a screening tool for early detecting sepsis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives Monocyte distribution has recently emerged as a promising biomarker of sepsis, especially in acute setting, such as Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of monocyte distribution width (MDW) for early detecting patients with sepsis by performing a systemic review and meta-analysis of published studies. Methods Relevant publications were identified by a systematic literature search on PubMed and Google Scholar from inception to September 07, 2021. Studies were divided into two groups based on the sepsis criteria applied, namely sepsis-2 or sepsis-3. Results Ten studies including 9,475 individuals, of whom 1,370 with sepsis (742 according Sepsis-2 and 628 according to Sepsis-3), met the inclusion criteria for our meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.789 and 0.777 for Sepsis-2 criteria, 0.838 and 0.704 for Sepsis-3 criteria. Conclusions MDW represents a reliable biomarker for sepsis screening.

Automated summary

Monocyte distribution width (MDW) is a reliable biomarker for early detection of sepsis, especially in acute settings like Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit. Studies were divided into sepsis-2 and sepsis-3 criteria groups, with pooled sensitivity and specificity indicating its accuracy in screening for sepsis.