BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: As epidemiological information is useful in planning the provision and assessing the efficiency of product use, we reviewed Spanish data on population, blood donation and blood component transfusion from 1997 to 2007, and the possible effect of universal leucoreduction. METHODS: Data on the Spanish population were obtained from the National Institute of Statistics, whereas data on blood donation and blood component transfusion were acquired from the Spanish Ministry of Health. RESULTS: During the study period, the Spanish population increased by 5.6 million persons (14.4%), and blood donation by 28.1%, although the amount of red blood cells (RBC) obtained increased by only 21.5% whereas RBC transfusions increased by 28.3%. The RBC transfusion rate was significantly higher after the implementation of universal leucoreduction (2002 - 2006) than during the pre-leucoreduction period (1997 - 2001) (difference = 2.54 units/1,000 population/year; 95%CI 1.81 - 3.27; P<0.001). We also observed statistical ly, but not clinically, significant differences for platelet and plasma transfusions. CONCLUSION: The increase observed in the RBC transfusion index after implementation of universal leucoreduction may have been due to a reduction of the haemoglobin content in the RBC units. Our data on blood use do, therefore, seem to add to the case against universal leucoreduction, which has led to an incremental cost for unknown, but probably slight, benefits for patients.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: As epidemiological information is useful in planning the provision and assessing the efficiency of product use, we reviewed Spanish data on population, blood donation and blood component transfusion from 1997 to 2007, and the possible effect of universal leucoreduction. METHODS: Data on the Spanish population were obtained from the National Institute of Statistics, whereas data on blood donation and blood component transfusion were acquired from the Spanish Ministry of Health. RESULTS: During the study period, the Spanish population increased by 5.6 million persons (14.4%), and blood donation by 28.1%, although the amount of red blood cells (RBC) obtained increased by only 21.5% whereas RBC transfusions increased by 28.3%. The RBC transfusion rate was significantly higher after the implementation of universal leucoreduction (2002 - 2006) than during the pre-leucoreduction period (1997 - 2001) (difference = 2.54 units/1,000 population/year; 95%CI 1.81 - 3.27; P<0.001). We also observed statistical ly, but not clinically, significant differences for platelet and plasma transfusions. CONCLUSION: The increase observed in the RBC transfusion index after implementation of universal leucoreduction may have been due to a reduction of the haemoglobin content in the RBC units. Our data on blood use do, therefore, seem to add to the case against universal leucoreduction, which has led to an incremental cost for unknown, but probably slight, benefits for patients.
Authors: Charlotte A Llewelyn; Rod S Taylor; Audrey A M Todd; Warren Stevens; Mike F Murphy; Lorna M Williamson Journal: Transfusion Date: 2004-04 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: Thelma T Goncalez; Ester C Sabino; Ligia Capuani; Jing Liu; David J Wright; Judy H Walsh; Joao E Ferreira; Dalton A Chamone; Michael P Busch; Brian Custer Journal: Transfusion Date: 2012-04 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: Hermann Eichler; Anna Katharina Feyer; Kerstin Weitmann; Wolfgang Hoffmann; Olaf Henseler; Andreas Opitz; Alexander Patek; Detlef Nikolaus Hans; Linda Schönborn; Andreas Greinacher Journal: Transfus Med Hemother Date: 2020-12-23 Impact factor: 3.747