Table 6.
Aggregate lifetime patient risks due to RBC transfusion for different patient categories under current testing algorithms in the United States
| Aggregate risk per patient (%) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnosis | RBC unit exposure | Minimuma 1 | Maximumb 2 |
| Cardiac surgery | 3 | 0.0009 (1/107,000) | 0.36 (1/277) |
| Trauma | 5 | 0.0016 (1/65,000) | 0.60 (1/167) |
| ICU | 3.5 | 0.0011 (1/91,000) | 0.42 (1/238) |
| Cardiovascular disease | 3 | 0.0009 (1/107,000) | 0.36 (1/277) |
| HSCT | 15 | 1.49 (1/67) | 3.25 (1/31) |
| MDS | 39 | 0.012 (1/8,000) | 3.76 (1/27) |
| SCD | 720 | 0.22 (1/450) | 43.17 (1/2) |
| Thalassemia | 750 | 0.23 (1/430) | 45.13 (1/2) |
The method of calculating risk when large numbers of units are transfused as described by Kleinman et al.66
Lifetime risks, except for cardiovascular disease and ICU patient groups. In the latter groups, risk is for a single hospitalization or ICU stay. Lifetime risk would increase for patients transfused on multiple occasions.1 Minimum per‐unit risk is 0.00031% for all patient groups except for HSCT patients, where minimum risk is 0.10031% based on potential sequelae from TT‐CMV infection.2 Maximum per‐unit risk is 0.12031% for the first four patient groups and 0.22031% for HSCT patients. For patients with MDS, SCD, and thalassemia, risk is 0.12031% for a 1.5‐year period (when a new acute EIA is in the blood supply) and 0.07631% (due to Babesia) when transfused during other time intervals.