Trends in transfusion rates after the FOCUS trial. (21st February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Howard, David H; Roback, John D; Murphy, David J
• Is Part Of: Journal of comparative effectiveness research. Volume 7:Number 2(2018)
• Page Start: 113
• Page End: 120
• Publication Date: 2018-02-21
• Subjects: dissemination -- evidenced base medicine -- practice variation -- surgery -- transfusions; Medical care -- Research -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Research -- Evaluation -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Decision making -- Periodicals; Evidence-based medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine, Comparative -- Periodicals; 362.1072
• DOI: 10.2217/cer-2017-0038
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2042-6305

Abstract

Aim: We estimate the impact of the FOCUS trial, which concluded that hip surgery patients with hemoglobin values above 8 g/dl do not benefit from routine transfusions, on transfusion rates.Methods: We evaluated trends in transfusion rates using inpatient discharge data from four states.Results: The transfusion rate was 5.2 percentage points lower in the fourth quarter of 2013 than it would have been had pre-FOCUS trends continued. Transfusion rates declined more in hospitals with a low end-of-life treatment intensity index, a general measure of treatment intensity.Conclusion: The FOCUS trial affected practice, but there are additional opportunities to reduce the use of transfusions.