Practice and costs of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion in an oncological unit.
BACKGROUND
Cancer related anemia impairs patient functioning. Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion and erythropoietin (EPO) may relieve fatigue. Cost-effectiveness data have been requested.


METHODS
All transfusions administered at the Department of Oncology, University Hospital of North Norway (UNN) in 2005 were analysed, with a total of 118 patients entering the study. A cost of transfusion analysis was added and a sensitivity analysis conducted to clarify robustness. The 118 patients received 613 units of erythrocytes. In 6% of cases, the transfusion was the only cause of a hospital visit. One fourth of patients had bone marrow infiltration and two-thirds had undergone chemotherapy. The mean Hb levels of patients prior to and following transfusion were in the range 8.4-8.8 g/dl and 10.2-10.6 g/dl, respectively; one-third reached a non-anemic level (Hb > or = 11.0 g/dl). The median time interval between transfusions was three weeks and the annual cost was calculated at Euro 1,069/patient.


CONCLUSIONS
RBC-transfusion has a low cost.
Norum
Jan
J
Department of Oncology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø. jan.norum@unn.no
Moen
Mari-Ann N
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D009664:Norway