Frequency and Outcomes of Blood Products Transfusion Across Procedures and Clinical Conditions Warranting Inpatient Care: An Analysis of the 2004 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample Database

The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to assess frequency and outcomes associated with blood products transfusion. Data from the 2004 Nationwide Inpatient Sample database were used. Length of stay (LOS), postoperative infections, noninfectious transfusion-related complications, in-hospital mortality, and total charges were evaluated for transfused and nontransfused cohorts. Of the estimated 38.66 million discharges in the United States in 2004, 5.8% (2.33 million) were associated with blood products transfusion. Average LOS was 2.5 days longer, and charges were $17 194 higher for the transfused cohort (P < .0001). Odds of death were 1.7 times higher (P < .0001) and odds of infection 1.9 times higher (P < .0001) for the transfused cohort. Increased provider awareness and recognition of the frequency and potential negative outcomes of blood products transfusion may encourage the adoption of novel approaches to minimize intraoperative and early postoperative bleeding, reduce transfusion requirements, and most important, improve patient-level postoperative outcomes and health-related quality of life.