Trends in Red Blood Cell, Plasma, and Platelet Transfusions in the United States, 1993-2014

Abstract

Blood transfusions are one of the most common hospital procedures. Randomized trials have demonstrated the safety of restrictive transfusion strategies.¹ Hospitals have subsequently implemented patient blood management programs to facilitate restrictive transfusion practices aimed to improve patient outcomes, reduce costs, and conserve blood. We are unaware of nationally representative studies evaluating temporal trends in red blood cell (RBC), plasma, and platelet transfusions while accounting for the influence of patient-level or hospital-level characteristics.