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Transfusion support in COVID‐19 patients: Impact on hospital blood component supply during the outbreak
Author(s) -
VelázquezKennedy Kyra,
Luna Alejandro,
SánchezTornero Adrián,
JiménezChillón Carlos,
JiménezMartín Ana,
Vallés Carboneras Ana,
Tenorio María,
García García Irene,
LópezJiménez Francisco Javier,
MorenoJiménez Gemma
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1111/trf.16171
Subject(s) - medicine , pandemic , covid-19 , blood transfusion , emergency medicine , outbreak , blood product , intensive care unit , blood component , intensive care medicine , surgery , infectious disease (medical specialty) , virology , disease
Background During the COVID‐19 outbreak, most hospitals deferred elective surgical procedures to allow space for the overwhelming number of COVID‐19 patient admissions, expecting a decrease in routine blood component requirements. However, because transfusion support needs of COVID‐19 patients are not well known, its impact on hospital blood supply is uncertain. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of the COVID‐19 pandemic on transfusion demand. Study Design and Methods Transfusion records during the peak of the COVID‐19 pandemic (March 1‐April 30, 2020) were reviewed in our center to assess changes in blood requirements. Results During this period 636 patients received a total of 2934 blood components, which reflects a 17.6% reduction in transfusion requirements with regard to the same period of 2019, and blood donations in Madrid dropped by 45%. The surgical blood demand decreased significantly during the outbreak (50.2%). Blood usage in the hematology and oncology departments remained unchanged, while the day ward demand halved, and intensive care unit transfusion needs increased by 116%. A total of 6.2% of all COVID inpatients required transfusion support. COVID‐19 inpatients consumed 19% of all blood components, which counterbalanced the savings owed to the reduction in elective procedures. Conclusion Although only a minority of COVID‐19 inpatients required transfusion, the expected reduction in transfusion needs caused by the lack of elective surgical procedures is partially offset by the large number of admitted patients during the peak of the pandemic. This fact must be taken into account when planning hospital blood supply.