Nyashadzaishe Mafirakureva1,2, Star Khoza3, Oliver Hassall4, Brian E Faragher4, Isaac Kajja5, David A Mvere2, Jean C Emmanuel2, Maarten J Postma1,6, Marinus van Hulst1,7. 1. Unit of Pharmaco-Epidemiology & Pharmaco-Economics (PE2), Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. 2. National Blood Service Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe. 3. Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe. 4. Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom. 5. Department of Orthopaedics, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. 6. Institute of Science in Healthy Ageing & health caRE (SHARE), University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, The Netherlands. 7. Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Toxicology, Martini Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There are limited published data on the characteristics of blood transfusion recipients in sub-Saharan Africa. This study describes the demographic characteristics of blood transfusion recipients and patterns of blood and blood component use in Zimbabwe. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data on the characteristics of the blood transfusion recipients (age, sex, blood group), blood components received (type, quantity), discharge diagnoses and outcomes following transfusion (discharge status, duration of stay in hospital), were retrospectively collected from four major hospitals for the period from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Diagnoses were grouped into broad categories according to the disease headings of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). Surgical procedures were grouped into broad categories according to organ system using ICD-9. RESULTS: Most of the 1,793 transfusion recipients studied were female (63.2%) and in the reproductive age group, i.e. 15-49 years (65.3%). The median age of the recipients was 33 years (range, 0-93). The majority of these recipients (n=1,642; 91.6%) received a red blood cell transfusion. The majority of the patients were diagnosed with conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth (22.3%), and diseases of blood and blood-forming organs (17.7%). The median time spent in hospital was 8 days (range, 0-214) and in-hospital mortality was 15.4%. DISCUSSION: Our sample of blood transfusion recipients were fairly young and most of them received red blood cell transfusions. The majority of patients in the reproductive age group received blood transfusions for pregnancy and childbirth-related diagnoses.
BACKGROUND: There are limited published data on the characteristics of blood transfusion recipients in sub-Saharan Africa. This study describes the demographic characteristics of blood transfusion recipients and patterns of blood and blood component use in Zimbabwe. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data on the characteristics of the blood transfusion recipients (age, sex, blood group), blood components received (type, quantity), discharge diagnoses and outcomes following transfusion (discharge status, duration of stay in hospital), were retrospectively collected from four major hospitals for the period from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Diagnoses were grouped into broad categories according to the disease headings of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). Surgical procedures were grouped into broad categories according to organ system using ICD-9. RESULTS: Most of the 1,793 transfusion recipients studied were female (63.2%) and in the reproductive age group, i.e. 15-49 years (65.3%). The median age of the recipients was 33 years (range, 0-93). The majority of these recipients (n=1,642; 91.6%) received a red blood cell transfusion. The majority of the patients were diagnosed with conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth (22.3%), and diseases of blood and blood-forming organs (17.7%). The median time spent in hospital was 8 days (range, 0-214) and in-hospital mortality was 15.4%. DISCUSSION: Our sample of blood transfusion recipients were fairly young and most of them received red blood cell transfusions. The majority of patients in the reproductive age group received blood transfusions for pregnancy and childbirth-related diagnoses.
Authors: Elizabeth C George; Sophie Uyoga; Bridon M'baya; Dorothy Kyeyune Byabazair; Sarah Kiguli; Peter Olupot-Olupot; Robert O Opoka; George Chagaluka; Florence Alaroker; Thomas N Williams; Imelda Bates; Dora Mbanya; Diana M Gibb; A Sarah Walker; Kathryn Maitland Journal: Lancet Glob Health Date: 2022-03 Impact factor: 38.927