[Characteristics of transfusion recipients in Bordeaux University Hospital. A descriptive study using hospital claims...

The steady increase of the blood demand since 2001 requires to study the clinical characteristics of blood components recipients. The objective was to describe patients transfused in 2006 in Bordeaux University Hospital, and to identify the diseases which justified the transfusion practice, using French hospital claims database.

Data from haemovigilance system were linked to hospital claims databases in order to describe patients transfused in 2006. To target diseases related to transfusion, a list of diagnoses considered as markers for transfusion was drawn up, and validated by physicians prescribing blood components.

Among the 100,004 patients admitted to hospital in 2006, 6275 (6.3%) received blood components; 46,727 blood units were transfused to these patients, including 67% of red blood cell, 13% of platelet concentrates and 20% of fresh-frozen plasma; 69% of blood units were prescribed in medical wards, 30% in surgery wards and 1% in gynaecology and obstetrics. The main diagnoses associated with blood transfusion were circulatory complications after cardiac surgery (80% of patients with this diagnosis were transfused), bone marrow aplasia (76% of patients), anaemia (55%), and gastro-intestinal bleeding (48%). The highest numbers of blood units were transfused to patients with hypovolemic, traumatic or postoperative shock, anaemia, hemopathy, or coagulation disorders.

This study provided a clinical profile of the transfused patients. Data collected could be used to plan blood collection and to define objectives and resources of healthcare establishments.