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Blood transfusion activity in a general hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Authors :
Marín-Mori K
González-Gascón Y Marín I
Foncillas-García MÁ
Muñoz-Novas C
Infante M
Churruca-Sarasqueta J
Landete-Hernández E
Bueno-García B
Duffort-Falco M
Hernández-Rivas JÁ
Source :
Vox sanguinis [Vox Sang] 2021 May; Vol. 116 (5), pp. 574-580. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Nov 02.
Publication Year :
2021

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 outbreak has affected almost all hospital departments, including transfusion services. However, the demand for transfusions in a general hospital designated to deal with COVID-19 patients has not been analysed before.<br />Study Design and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate blood transfusion practices from 15 March to 14 April 2020 at Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor (Madrid, Spain). During this month, with few exceptions, the hospital became a 'COVID-19' centre. In addition, transfusion rates during this time frame and the same period over the last 4 years were compared.<br />Results: From 15 March to 14 April 2020, only 254 blood components were transfused, resulting in a 49·3% reduction over the previous year. Interestingly, in critically ill patients, the red blood cell (RBC) transfusion/bed ratio significantly decreased during this period (0·92) compared to the same ratio over the past 4 years (2·70) (P = 0·02). Of note, 106 blood components (95 RBC; 11 platelet concentrates) were transfused to only 36 out of 1348 COVID-19 patients (2·7%). The main reason for RBC transfusion in COVID-19 patients was a previous underlying disease (44%) followed by bleeding (25%) and inflammatory anaemia (25%).<br />Conclusion: This is the first study to report a decrease in blood transfusions during the COVID-19 pandemic in a general hospital and especially in the intensive care unit. The results of this study suggest that COVID-19 does not generally induce transfusion requiring anaemia, being the main causes for transfusion in these patients underlying conditions or bleeding.<br /> (© 2020 International Society of Blood Transfusion.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1423-0410
Volume :
116
Issue :
5
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Vox sanguinis
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
33135226
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1111/vox.13024