Biomarkers · Hematology

Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)

Both low and high values go with higher risk of death. In NHANES 1999–2018 with linked mortality to 2019, each standard deviation above average goes with 6% higher risk of death. Risk rises at both ends: not comparable

MCV and risk of death

NHANES, our fit with 95% CIPublished curve

Published curve higher than the NHANES fitNHANES fit higher

Risk of death relative to each curve's own reference value, so the two curves need not cross 1 at the same point. The dotted vertical line marks the NHANES median.

Risk of death per SD (NHANES)1.06×95% CI 1.03–1.08 · 49,105 adults, 7,188 deaths

Published risk of death1.05×per 1 fL higher MCV above the inflection point of 88.57 fL (below it: HR 0.99, 0.97-1.00) (95% CI 1.04–1.06) · NHANES 1999-2008 US adults (n=21,203); mean follow-up 166.2 months, 24.4% died

Value of the measurement+0.012gain in concordance within age bands; rank 30 of 56 · all tests

MCV by age and sex

Each bar runs from the 5th to the 95th percentile, the darker part from the 25th to the 75th, and the tick is the median. Not a reference range or a target.

The percentiles as a table

Each row is one sex and age band: the values below which 5%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 95% of people fall (fL), from the survey named in the row. Not a reference range or a target.
Sex	Age	5th	25th	Median	75th	95th	n	Cycle / source
All	20-39	79.5	85.1	88.1	91.0	95.6	1,457	NHANES 2017-2018
All	40-59	79.2	85.9	89.4	92.2	96.3	1,584	NHANES 2017-2018
All	60+	81.7	87.7	90.5	93.6	97.9	1,940	NHANES 2017-2018
All	all	80.1	86.0	89.3	92.2	96.7	4,981	NHANES 2017-2018
Men	20-39	81.1	85.4	87.9	90.7	95.1	698	NHANES 2017-2018
Men	40-59	81.9	86.1	89.3	92.0	96.4	740	NHANES 2017-2018
Men	60+	81.7	87.8	90.6	93.7	98.1	981	NHANES 2017-2018
Men	all	81.6	86.2	89.1	92.0	96.8	2,419	NHANES 2017-2018
Women	20-39	76.6	84.1	88.2	91.3	95.7	759	NHANES 2017-2018
Women	40-59	76.7	85.7	89.5	92.5	96.2	844	NHANES 2017-2018
Women	60+	81.7	87.6	90.4	93.3	97.7	959	NHANES 2017-2018
Women	all	77.8	85.9	89.4	92.5	96.6	2,562	NHANES 2017-2018

What studies found when this marker was changed

They describe what happened in those study groups, not a recommendation. See all catalogued interventions.

Measured changes in MCV, study by study

1 effect with a numeric size, each from one study arm: the dot is the reported change, the line its 95% interval where one was given. Study results in the groups studied, not predictions for a person.

Each row is one study: what was changed, the effect it reported on this marker, and the source.
Type	Intervention	Reported effect	Evidence	Source
clinical	Single-dose intravenous ferric derisomaltose vs oral ferrous sulfate in pregnant women with moderate iron deficiency anaemia (RAPIDIRON)	MCV 2.87 fL higher (95% CI 2.41 to 3.33) with IV ferric derisomaltose than oral iron at 26-30 weeks gestation; duration not stated	RCT	Somannavar MS, et al. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2026;39(1):2660016.

What else moves this marker

They describe those study groups, not an individual, and an association is not a cause.

Environmental and occupational exposures

Each row is one study: what it compared and the change it reported in this marker.
What	Effect on the marker	Comparison · population	Source
↑ Current cigarette smoking · current smokers vs non-smokers	SMD +0.29 (95% CI 0.19 to 0.39)	current smokers vs non-smokers · 531,741 individuals from 92 studies (including the Danish GESUS cohort)	meta analysis · PMID 31875952

Sources

Risk curve: Zhang J 2024 (PMID 39093828): all-cause HR 1.05 (1.04-1.06) per 1 fL higher MCV above the inflection point of 88.57 fL (below it: HR 0.99, 0.97-1.00). Scaled to US values (NHANES).
Zhang J, et al. Nonlinear relationship of red blood cell indices (MCH, MCHC, and MCV) with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: A cohort study in U.S. adults. PLOS ONE. 2024;19(8):e0307609.
NHANES curve: our Cox model adjusted for age and sex, NHANES 1999–2018 with linked mortality to 2019.

Map Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) against another biomarker.

Map MCV against another marker