New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Blood transfusion for PCI associated with increased risk of cardiac event

Date:
February 25, 2014
Source:
The JAMA Network Journals
Summary:
In an analysis that included more than two million patients who underwent a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI; procedures such as balloon angioplasty or stent placement used to open narrowed coronary arteries), there was considerable variation in red blood cell transfusion practices among hospitals across the US, and receiving a transfusion was associated with an increased risk of in-hospital heart attack, stroke or death, according to a study.
Share:
FULL STORY

In an analysis that included more than two million patients who underwent a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI; procedures such as balloon angioplasty or stent placement used to open narrowed coronary arteries), there was considerable variation in red blood cell transfusion practices among hospitals across the U.S., and receiving a transfusion was associated with an increased risk of in-hospital heart attack, stroke or death, according to a study in the February 26 issue of JAMA.

Red blood cell transfusion among patients with coronary artery disease is controversial. A growing body of evidence suggests that transfusion in the setting of acute coronary syndromes (ACS; such as heart attack or unstable angina) and in hospitalized patients with a history of coronary artery disease may be associated with an increase in risk of heart attack and death. Current guideline statements are cautious about recommending transfusion in hospitalized patients with a history of coronary artery disease and make no recommendation on transfusion in the setting of ACS, citing an absence of definitive evidence, according to background information in the article.

Matthew W. Sherwood, M.D, of Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, N.C., and colleagues examined transfusion practice patterns and outcomes in a population representative of patients undergoing PCI across the United States with data from a registry on patient visits (n = 2,258,711) from July 2009 to March 2013 for PCI at 1,431 hospitals.

Overall rate, 2.1 percent of patients undergoing PCI had a transfusion. The researchers found a broad variation in patterns of transfusion across hospitals. Overall, 96.3 percent of sites gave a transfusion to less than 5 percent of patients and 3.7 percent of sites gave a transfusion to 5 percent of patients or more.

Compared to no transfusion, receiving a transfusion was associated with a greater risk of heart attack (4.5 percent vs 1.8 percent), stroke (2.0 percent vs 0.2 percent), and in-hospital death (12.5 percent vs 1.2 percent), irrespective of bleeding complications.

Patients more likely to receive a transfusion were older, were women, and were more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, advanced renal dysfunction, and prior heart attack or heart failure.

The authors speculate that the variation seen in transfusion practice patterns in this study may be related to several factors, including previously held beliefs about the benefit of transfusion and recently published data indicating the lack of benefit and potential hazard associated with transfusion.

"These data highlight the need for randomized trials of transfusion strategies to guide practice in patients undergoing PCI. Until these trials have been completed, operators should use strategies that reduce the risk of bleeding and [need for] transfusion."


Story Source:

Materials provided by The JAMA Network Journals. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Matthew W. Sherwood, Yongfei Wang, Jeptha P. Curtis, Eric D. Peterson, Sunil V. Rao. Patterns and Outcomes of Red Blood Cell Transfusion in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention. JAMA, 2014; 311 (8): 836 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2014.980

Cite This Page:

The JAMA Network Journals. "Blood transfusion for PCI associated with increased risk of cardiac event." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 25 February 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140225162704.htm>.
The JAMA Network Journals. (2014, February 25). Blood transfusion for PCI associated with increased risk of cardiac event. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 5, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140225162704.htm
The JAMA Network Journals. "Blood transfusion for PCI associated with increased risk of cardiac event." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140225162704.htm (accessed December 5, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES