Association between in-ICU red blood cells transfusion and 1-year mortality in ICU survivors

Background: Impact of in-ICU transfusion on long-term outcomes remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess in critical-care survivors the association between in-ICU red blood cells transfusion and 1-year mortality. Methods: FROG-ICU, a multicenter European study enrolling all-comers critical care patients was analyzed (n=1551). Association between red blood cells transfusion administered in intensive care unit and 1-year mortality in critical care survivors was analyzed using an augmented inverse probability of treatment weighting-augmented inverse probability of censoring weighting method to control confounders. Results: Among the 1551 ICU-survivors, 42% received at least one unit of red blood cells while in intensive care unit. Patients in the transfusion group had greater severity scores than those in the no-transfusion group. According to unweighted analysis, 1-year post-critical care mortality was greater in the transfusion group compared to the notransfusion group (hazard ratio (HR) 1.78, 95% CI 1.45-2.16). Weighted analyses including 40 confounders, showed that transfusion remained associated with a higher risk of long-term mortality (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.06-1.46). Conclusions: Our results suggest a high incidence of in-ICU RBC transfusion and that in-ICU transfusion is associated with a higher 1-year mortality among in-ICU survivors.

Automated summary

The study aimed to evaluate the association between in-ICU red blood cells transfusion and 1-year mortality among critical care survivors. The results showed a high incidence of in-ICU RBC transfusion and its association with a higher 1-year mortality among ICU survivors.