Observational studyAnnals of Saudi medicine
Does red blood cell transfusion affect clinical outcomes in critically ill patients? A report from a large teaching hospital in south Iran.
Observational study in Annals of Saudi medicine. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Outcomes of Blood Transfusions in Patients Undergoing Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study of 47,835 Patients.Brain sciences · 2025Article
- Systemic Immune Inflammation Index (SII) and Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) Associated with Prolonged Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Stay in Patients with Pneumonia Complicated with Respiratory Failure.International journal of general medicine · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDespite the beneficial effects, RBC transfusion can be associated with infectious and non-infectious complications in critically ill patients.
objectivesInvestigate current RBC transfusion practices and their effect on the clinical outcomes of patients in intensive care units (ICUs).
designRetrospective observational study.
settingThree mixed medical-surgical adult ICUs of a large academic tertiary hospital. PATIENTS AND
methodsFrom March 2018 to February 2020, all adult patients admitted to medical or surgical ICU. Patients who received one or more RBC transfusions during the first month of ICU admission were included in the "transfusion" group, while the remaining patients were assigned to the "non-transfusion" group.
main outcome measuresMortality and length of ICU and hospital stay. SAMPLE SIZE: 2159 patients.
resultsOf 594 patients who recieved transfusions, 27% of patients received red blood cell (RBC) products. The mean pre-transfusion hemoglobin (Hb) level was 8.05 (1.46) g/dL. There was a significant relationship between higher APACHE II scores and ICU mortality in patients with Hb levels of 7-9 g/dL (OR adjusted=1.05). Also, ICU mortality was associated with age (OR adjusted=1.03), APACHE II score (OR adjusted=1.08), and RBC transfusion (OR adjusted=2.01) in those whose Hb levels were >9 (g/dl).
conclusionRBC transfusion was associated with an approximately doubled risk of ICU mortality in patients with Hb>9 g/dL. High APACHE II score and age increase the chance of death in the ICU by 8% and 3%, respectively. Hence, ICU physicians should consider a lower Hb threshold for RBC transfusion, and efforts must be made to optimize RBC transfusion practices. LIMITATIONS: Single-center and retrospective study.
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