Blood Transfusion Reactions in Elderly Patients Hospitalized in a Multilevel Geriatric Hospital

Abstract

Background/Objectives. Blood transfusion is a critical issue for patients with chronic diseases such as heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and malignancy. However, side effects are not rare. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the frequency of adverse blood transfusion reactions in hospitalized elderly patients during a one-year period. Design/Setting/Participants. Blood transfusion reactions such as fever, chills, dyspnea, and others following blood transfusions in hospitalized geriatric patients during one-year period were examined. Results. 382 blood units (242 patients) were administered during the study period. In 40 (11%) cases, blood transfusion reactions occurred. Fever was the most common reaction in 29 cases (72%), four (10%) had shortness of breath, and 3 (8%) had vomiting and chills each. There were no lethal cases in the 24-hour period following blood transfusions. Conclusion. A relatively low rate of adverse blood transfusion reactions occurred in our geriatric patients. We may speculate that this is related to underreporting of minor symptoms due to the high percentage of demented patients in this population.

Hemovigilance and patient safety: analysis of immediate transfusion reactions in elderly

“…The median age in this study, carried out in a general hospital, was 70 years old, quite inferior to the findings of an American research which searched objective symptoms of transfusion reactions in the records of elders who received packed red blood cells, produced in a multi-level geriatric hospital, which found a median of 82 years (±9). However, the results of this research about the frequency of transfusions were corroborated by that study, which showed that 91% of patients received from one to two transfusions in the period (63%, one transfusion; and 28%, two transfusions) (36) .…”

<p>Proportion of Acute Transfusion Reaction and Associated Factors Among Adult Transfused Patients at Felege Hiwot Compressive Referral Hospital, Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study</p>

“…The find was consistent with studies conducted in Japan (5.05%), 12 India (3.4%), 24 Belgaum (4.41%), 25 and Nigeria (3.6%). 26 However, this finding was lower than a study conducted in different areas, namely, USA (16.5%) 27 and Nigeria (26.3%). 28 The observed difference might be due to a difference in study participants.…”

Patterns of Adverse Transfusion Reactions in a Tertiary Care Centre of Rural Bengaluru, South India: A Step Towards Hemovigilance

“…(Table 1) Lubart et al had high incidence of transfusion reactions in their study because their study population was hospitalized elderly individuals who are frail with a high rate of comorbidities. (8) The rate of transfusion reaction was higher (3.8%) in the study conducted by Pedrosa AKKV et al as their study included only paediatric population. The prevalence of transfusion reactions in children is high, and the intervening factors are: type of blood component, age, patient comorbidity, and multiple transfusions and type of blood component transfused.…”

“…Kumar P et al (6) 0.18% FNHTR Bhattacharya et al (7) 0.26% FNHTR Lubart et al (8) 10.5% FNHTR Pedrosa AKKV et al (9) 3.8% Allergic reactions…”