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. 2017 Jan 27;2017(1):CD011305. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011305.pub2

4. Review secondary outcome‐red blood cell transfusion.

Study No. of participants received RBC transfusion during the study period Mean no. RBC units transfusions/participant during study period Number of participant‐days with RBC transfusions Proportion of participant‐days with RBC transfusions Mean Hb within first +100 days: Number of RBC units per transfusion Interval between RBC transfusions
(mean) (days)
RCTs
De Zern 2016 Restrictive:
57/59
Liberal:
30/30
Restrictive:
mean 8.2 (SD 4.2)
Liberal:
mean 11.3 (SD 5.4)
NR NR Restrictive:
mean 33.6 (SD 1.4)
Liberal:
mean 33.2 (SD 2.0)
NR NR
Robitaille 2013 Restrictive:
3/3
Liberal:
3/3
Restrictive:
(mean 1.3 [SD 0.58]; median 1 [range 1 to 2; SE 0.33])
Liberal:
(mean 8.7 [SD 5.5]; median 9 [range 3 to 14; SE 3.2])
NR NR Restrictive:
[mean pre transfusion Hb 69 g/L (range 69 g/L to 70 g/L) no SD]
Liberal:
[mean pre transfusion Hb 106 g/L (range 118 g/L to 132 g/L) no SD]
NR NR
Webert 2008 Restrictive:
26/29
(24/29 from when Hb ≥80 g/L)
Liberal:
29/31
(28/28 from when Hb ≥ 120g/L)
NR Restrictive:
75 (70/467 days of observation once reached target Hb)
Liberal:
113 g/L (72/410 days of observation once reached target Hb)
Restrictive:
0.151 (0.150 after study Hb threshold reached)
Liberal:
0.233 (0.176 after study Hb threshold reached)
[RR 1.56; 95% CI 1.16 to 2.10]
[RR 1.18: 95% CI 0.90 to 1.54; once study Hb threshold reached]a
NR NR NR
NRS
Jansen 2004 NR Restrictive:
mean 9.6 (SD 3.9); Median 9 (SE 0.6); Range 3 to 21
Liberal:
mean 10.8 (SD 2.9); Median 11.0 (SE 0.4); Range 6 to 21
NR NR Restrictive:
Age < 25 Hb 7.5 (n = 3); 25‐50 yrs Hb 8.0 (n = 22); Age 50‐70 years Hb 8.3 (n = 13)
Liberal:
Age < 25 years Hb 8.8 (n = 3); 25‐50 years Hb 9.3 (n = 32); 50‐70 years Hb 9.5 (n = 11)
Restrictive:
Mean 1.3
(SD 0.5); Median
1.0 (SE 0.03); range 1‐4
Liberal:
Mean 1.82 (SD 0.4); Median 2 (SE 0.03); Range 1‐5
Restrictive: 3.1 days
(No SD)
Liberal:
3 days
(No SD)

CI = confidence interval
 Hb = haemoglobin
 RBC = red blood cell
 RR ‐ risk ratio
 SD = standard deviation
 SE = standard error

Trial HB: Restrictive ≥ 80g/L and Liberal ≥ 120g/L

aData analysed by study authors, reported as relative risks derived from adjusted Cox regression models, allowing for repeated measures.