Association of anaemia, co-morbidities and red blood cell transfusion according to age groups: multicentre sub-analysis of the German Patient Blood Management Network Registry
Lea Valeska Blum, Elke Schmitt, Suma Choorapoikayil, Olaf Baumhove, Alexandra Bayer, Patrick Friederich, Jens Friedrich, Christof Geisen, Matthias Gruenewald, Martin Gutjahr, Eva Herrmann, Markus Müller, Diana Nariţa, Ansgar Raadts, Klaus Schwendner, Erhard Seifried, Patrick Stark, Josef Thoma, Henry U. Weigt, Christoph Wiesenack, Andrea U. Steinbicker, Kai Zacharowski, Patrick Meybohm, German PBM Network Collaborators, Olaf Baumhove, Samuel de Leeuw van Weenen, Diana Nariţa, Josef Michael Huber, E Adam, Suma Choorapoikayil, Lotta Hof, Sabine Isik, M Krämer, Holger Neb, Vanessa Neef, Florian Piekarski, Elke Schmitt, Kai Zacharowski, T Walther, Tomáš Holubec, Andreas A. Schnitzbauer, Wolf O. Bechstein, W Derwich, Thomas Schmitz‐Rixen, Björn Steffen, H Serve, J Bojunga, S Zeuzem, J Konczalla, Volker Seifert, F Roos, F Chun, C Nau, İngo Marzi, M Leinung, T Stöver, S Ghanaati, R Sader, F Louwen, S Becker, J Ernst, Joachim Sauter, Christoph Wiesenack, M Gerber, A Bayer, Henry U. Weigt, Ansgar Raadts, Johannes Duemmler, Matthias Gruenewald, Lars Hummitzsch, Ulf Lorenzen, Jochen Renner, M Sokirjanski, M Steinfath, Matthias Pagel, Assad Haneya, Thomas Puehler, Rouven Berndt, René Rusch, T Becker, J Pochhammer, T Klueter, A. Seekamp, H Ahmeti, A Helmers, Daniar Osmonow, Dirk Bauerschlag, Henning Wieker, Markus Hoffmann, Jens Friedrich, G. Molter, M Bier, Martin Gutjahr, Reinhold Bauer, Brigitte Bräutigam, Pascal Friederich, Hugo K. Van Aken, A Boanta, J Becker, M Bomert
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Blood transfusions are common medical procedures and every age group requires detailed insights and treatment bundles. The aim of this study was to examine the association of anaemia, co-morbidities, complications, in-hospital mortality, and transfusion according to age groups to identify patient groups who are particularly at risk when undergoing surgery. METHODS: Data from 21 Hospitals of the Patient Blood Management Network Registry were analysed. Patients were divided into age subgroups. The incidence of preoperative anaemia, co-morbidities, surgical disciplines, hospital length of stay, complications, in-hospital mortality rate, and transfusions were analysed by descriptive and multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1 117 919 patients aged 18-108 years were included. With increasing age, the number of co-morbidities and incidence of preoperative anaemia increased. Complications, hospital length of stay, and in-hospital mortality increased with age and were higher in patients with preoperative anaemia. The mean number of transfused red blood cells (RBCs) peaked, whereas the transfusion rate increased continuously. Multivariate regression analysis showed that increasing age, co-morbidities, and preoperative anaemia were independent risk factors for complications, longer hospital length of stay, in-hospital mortality, and the need for RBC transfusion. CONCLUSION: Increasing age, co-morbidities, and preoperative anaemia are independent risk factors for complications, longer hospital length of stay, in-hospital mortality, and the need for RBC transfusion. Anaemia diagnosis and treatment should be established in all patients.