title: A retrospective study to evaluate the time burden associated with outpatient red blood transfusions indicated for anemia due to concomitantly administered chemotherapy in cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Anemia in cancer patients can be treated with red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. The patient burden associated with a treatment in terms of total time spent is an important factor to consider when measuring the benefits and challenges of a therapy. This study estimates the time-related patient burden associated with outpatient RBC transfusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review of outpatient cancer patients receiving a RBC transfusion was conducted at 10 US centers. RBC transfusion time was measured as time elapsed from pre- to post-transfusion vital sign assessment and from transfusion start to stop time. Elapsed time from hemoglobin level testing and blood draw for cross-match to transfusion, estimated travel time and distance, and clinical and demographic data were also collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 110 patients (48.2 % male; mean age 64 ± 12 years) showed that the mean elapsed time between pre- and post-vital sign assessment was 4.2 h (95 % confidence interval (CI), 3.64-4.81) including 3.6 h (95 % CI, 3.0-4.1) on average to receive the actual RBC transfusion treatment. Hemoglobin level testing (mean Hg level, 8.33 g/dL ± 0.67) and blood drawn for cross-match were completed in an average of 31.2 h (95 % CI, 17.0-45.5) and 18.2 h (95 % CI, 12.1-24.2) prior to transfusion, respectively. Patient one-way travel time averaged 30.0 min (95 % CI, 25.9-34.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the US, CIA patients experience an important time burden when being treated with RBC transfusion in addition to the burden already added by chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Amgen Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Sanatan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shreay
authors.forename: Marie-Pierre
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Desrosiers
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Corey-Lisle
authors.forename: Krista
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Payne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods; D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014187:Transportation of Patients
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006454:Hemoglobins