Long-Term Outcomes with Conservative Transfusion Strategies in Hospitalized Patients with Moderate Anemia

From 2010 to 2014, more patients were discharged with moderate anemia, but rehospitalizations and deaths at 6 months declined.

Randomized clinical trials have shown that avoiding transfusions for moderate anemia (hemoglobin, 7–10 g/dL) is safe in several subgroups of hospitalized patients (NEJM JW Gen Med May 15 2015 and BMJ 2015; 350:1354). In this retrospective cohort study of 445,000 patients with >800,000 hospital discharges during 5 years (2010–2014), researchers evaluated long-term effects of limiting transfusions for anemia and tolerating lower hemoglobin levels.

After adjustment for relevant comorbidities, prevalence of moderate anemia in patients discharged from the hospital increased significantly from 20% in 2010 to 25% in 2014, which reflected significantly fewer inpatient transfusions (40 red blood cell [RBC] units per 1000 patients in 2010 vs. 29 RBC u…

Reviewing Author

Daniel D. Dressler, MD, MSc, SFHM, FACP

Disclosures

RoyaltiesMcGraw-Hill; Elsevier

Editorial BoardsMedical Clinics of North America; Caribbean Medical Journal International Advisory Panel (2021–2026)

Daniel D. Dressler, MD, MSc, SFHM, FACP

Disclosures

RoyaltiesMcGraw-Hill; Elsevier

Editorial BoardsMedical Clinics of North America; Caribbean Medical Journal International Advisory Panel (2021–2026)

Long-Term Outcomes with Conservative Transfusion Strategies in Hospitalized Patients with Moderate Anemia

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Reviewing Author