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Impact of the early coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on blood utilization in the United States: A time‐series analysis of data reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network Hemovigilance Module
Author(s) -
Kracalik Ian,
Mowla Sanjida,
Katz Louis,
Cumming Melissa,
Sapiano Matthew R. P.,
Basavaraju Sridhar V.
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.16451
Subject(s) - medicine , discards , pandemic , medicaid , emergency medicine , health care , covid-19 , medical emergency , intensive care medicine , disease , ecology , fishing , infectious disease (medical specialty) , economics , biology , economic growth
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has disrupted healthcare services worldwide. However, little has been reported regarding the impact on blood utilization. We quantified the impact of COVID‐19 on blood utilization and discards among facilities reporting to the National Healthcare Safety Network Hemovigilance Module. Methods Facilities continuously reporting data, during January 2016–June 2020, on transfused and discarded blood components, stratified by component type (red blood cells [RBC], platelets, and plasma), were included. Interrupted time‐series analysis with generalized estimating equations, adjusting for facility surgical volume and seasonality, was used to quantify changes in blood utilization and discards relative to a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services notification delaying nonessential medical procedures (March 2020). Results Seventy‐two facilities included in the analyses, on average, transfused 44,548 and discarded 2,202 blood components monthly. Following the March 2020 notification and after multivariable adjustment, RBC and platelet utilization declined, −9.9% ( p < .001) and −13.6% ( p = .014), respectively. Discards increased for RBCs (30.2%, p = .047) and platelets (60.4%, p = .002). No statistically significant change in plasma was found. Following these abrupt changes, blood utilization and discards rebounded toward baseline with RBC utilization increasing by 5.7% ( p < .001), and platelet and RBC discards decreasing −16.4% (<0.001) and −12.7 ( p = .001), respectively. Conclusion Following notification delaying elective surgical procedures, blood utilization declined substantially while blood discards increased, resulting in substantial wastage of blood products. Ongoing and future pandemic response efforts should consider the impact of interventions on blood supply and demand to ensure blood availability.