[Transfusions in the Copenhagen Hospital Corporation, 2000-2002].
BACKGROUND
Blood usage in Denmark is among the highest in the Western world. It has been postulated that this is due to a more liberal transfusion policy, especially in the eastern part of the country.


METHODS
All transfusions of blood components in the five hospitals in the Copenhagen Hospital Corporation (H:S) in the period 2000-2002 were analysed.


RESULTS
The percentage of transfused patients in H:S equals that of other Danish hospitals of similar size and specialisation and is in accordance with published results from abroad. The number of transfused SAG M per transfused patient is highest at the University Hospital of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet (RH), among all hospitals in Denmark. This is a result of the demographics of the patients treated and the highly specialised treatments performed there. Of acutely multitransfused patients at RH, 36% survive. There is no correlation between the number of transfused units and the survival rate. Of patients with a haemoglobin 7.0 mmol/L at discharge, RH has one of the lowest percentages of all hospitals in Denmark, reflecting its restrictive transfusion policy.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows no evidence of a more liberal transfusion policy in H:S as compared to other Danish hospitals of similar size and specialisation.
Johansson
Pär Ingemar
PI
Klinisk Immunologisk Afdeling, H:S Rigshospitalet, H:S Blodbank, DK-2100 København Ø. p.johansson@post.tele.dk
Sørensen
Henning
H
D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019992:Databases as Topic; D003718:Denmark; D006801:Humans; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'