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Trends in transfusion rates after the FOCUS trial.
J Comp Eff Res. 2018 Feb;7(2):113-120
Authors: Howard DH, Roback JD, Murphy DJ
Abstract
AIM: We estimate the impact of the FOCUS trial, which concluded that hip surgery patients with hemoglobin values above 8 g/dl do not benefit from routine transfusions, on transfusion rates.
METHODS: We evaluated trends in transfusion rates using inpatient discharge data from four states.
RESULTS: The transfusion rate was 5.2 percentage points lower in the fourth quarter of 2013 than it would have been had pre-FOCUS trends continued. Transfusion rates declined more in hospitals with a low end-of-life treatment intensity index, a general measure of treatment intensity.
CONCLUSION: The FOCUS trial affected practice, but there are additional opportunities to reduce the use of transfusions.
PMID: 29464966 [PubMed - in process]