[Transfusions in the Copenhagen Hospital Corporation, 2000-2002]

Blood usage in Denmark is among the highest in the Western world. It has been postulated that this is due to a more liberal transfusion policy, especially in the eastern part of the country.

All transfusions of blood components in the five hospitals in the Copenhagen Hospital Corporation (H:S) in the period 2000-2002 were analysed.

The percentage of transfused patients in H:S equals that of other Danish hospitals of similar size and specialisation and is in accordance with published results from abroad. The number of transfused SAG M per transfused patient is highest at the University Hospital of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet (RH), among all hospitals in Denmark. This is a result of the demographics of the patients treated and the highly specialised treatments performed there. Of acutely multitransfused patients at RH, 36% survive. There is no correlation between the number of transfused units and the survival rate. Of patients with a haemoglobin 7.0 mmol/L at discharge, RH has one of the lowest percentages of all hospitals in Denmark, reflecting its restrictive transfusion policy.

This study shows no evidence of a more liberal transfusion policy in H:S as compared to other Danish hospitals of similar size and specialisation.