ORCID Profile
0000-0003-0615-7474
Does something not look right? The information on this page has been harvested from data sources that may not be up to date. We continue to work with information providers to improve coverage and quality. To report an issue, use the Feedback Form.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 08-2019
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2019-029828
Abstract: There has been a significant increase in the number of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials investigating thresholds for red blood cell transfusion. To systematically collate, appraise and synthesise the results of these systematic reviews and meta-analyses, we will conduct an overview of systematic reviews. This is a protocol for an overview of systematic reviews. We will search five databases: MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, PubMed (for prepublication, in process and non-Medline records) and Google Scholar. We will consider systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials evaluating the effect of haemoglobin thresholds for red blood cell transfusion on mortality. Two authors will independently screen titles and abstracts retrieved in the literature search and select studies meeting the eligibility criteria for full-text review. We will extract data onto a predefined form designed to summarise the key characteristics of each review. We will assess the methodological quality of included reviews and the quality of evidence in included reviews. Formal ethics approval is not required for this overview as we will only analyse published literature. The findings of this study will be presented at relevant conferences and submitted for peer-review publication. The results are likely to be used by clinicians, policy makers and developers of clinical guidelines and will inform suggestions for future systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials. CRD42019120503.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 30-09-2016
DOI: 10.1007/S00134-016-4465-6
Abstract: Both anaemia and allogenic red blood cell transfusion are common and potentially harmful in patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Whilst intravenous iron may decrease anaemia and RBC transfusion requirement, the safety and efficacy of administering iron intravenously to critically ill patients is uncertain. The multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded Intravenous Iron or Placebo for Anaemia in Intensive Care (IRONMAN) study was designed to test the hypothesis that, in anaemic critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit, early administration of intravenous iron, compared with placebo, reduces allogeneic red blood cell transfusion during hospital stay and increases the haemoglobin level at the time of hospital discharge. Of 140 patients enrolled, 70 were assigned to intravenous iron and 70 to placebo. The iron group received 97 red blood cell units versus 136 red blood cell units in the placebo group, yielding an incidence rate ratio of 0.71 [95 % confidence interval (0.43-1.18), P = 0.19]. Overall, median haemoglobin at hospital discharge was significantly higher in the intravenous iron group than in the placebo group [107 (interquartile ratio IQR 97-115) vs. 100 g/L (IQR 89-111), P = 0.02]. There was no significant difference between the groups in any safety outcome. In patients admitted to the intensive care unit who were anaemic, intravenous iron, compared with placebo, did not result in a significant lowering of red blood cell transfusion requirement during hospital stay. Patients who received intravenous iron had a significantly higher haemoglobin concentration at hospital discharge. The trial was registered at www.anzctr.org.au as # ACTRN12612001249842.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.BPA.2013.02.001
Abstract: In times of escalating health-care cost, it is of great importance to carefully assess the cost-effectiveness and appropriateness of the most resource-consuming health interventions. A long-standing and common clinical practice that has been underestimated in cost and overestimated in effectiveness is the transfusion of allogeneic blood products. Studies show that this intervention comes with largely underestimated service cost and unacceptably high utilisation variability for matched patients, thus adding billions of unnecessary dollars to the health-care expenditure each year. Moreover, a large and increasing body of literature points to a dose-dependent increase of morbidity and mortality and adverse long-term outcomes associated with transfusion whereas published evidence for benefit is extremely limited. This means that transfusion may be a generator for increased hospital stay and possible re-admissions, resulting in additional billions in unnecessary expenditure for the health system. In contrast to this, there are evidence-based and cost-effective treatment options available to pre-empt and reduce allogeneic transfusions. The patient-specific rather than a product-centred application of these multiple modalities is termed patient blood management (PBM). From a health-economic perspective, the expeditious implementation of PBM programmes is clearly indicated. Both patients and payers could benefit from this concept that has recently been endorsed through the World Health Assembly resolution WHA63.12.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-06-2020
DOI: 10.1186/S12916-020-01614-W
Abstract: There are no overviews of systematic reviews investigating haemoglobin thresholds for transfusion. This is important as the literature on transfusion thresholds has grown considerably in recent years. Our aim was to synthesise evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the effects of restrictive and liberal transfusion strategies on mortality. This was a systematic review of systematic reviews (overview). We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Joanna Briggs Institute EBP Database, from 2008 to 2018. We included systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials comparing mortality in patients assigned to red cell transfusion strategies based on haemoglobin thresholds. Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed methodological quality. We assessed the methodological quality of included reviews using AMSTAR 2 and the quality of evidence pooled using an algorithm to assign GRADE levels. We included 19 systematic reviews reporting 33 meta-analyses of mortality outcomes from 53 unique randomised controlled trials. Of the 33 meta-analyses, one was graded as high quality, 15 were moderate, and 17 were low. Of the meta-analyses presenting high- to moderate-quality evidence, 12 (75.0%) reported no statistically significant difference in mortality between restrictive and liberal transfusion groups and four (25.0%) reported significantly lower mortality for patients assigned to a restrictive transfusion strategy. We found few systematic reviews addressed clinical differences between included studies: variation was observed in haemoglobin threshold concentrations, the absolute between group difference in haemoglobin threshold concentration, time to randomisation (resulting in transfusions administered prior to randomisation), and transfusion dosing regimens. Meta-analyses graded as high to moderate quality indicate that in most patient populations no difference in mortality exists between patients assigned to a restrictive or liberal transfusion strategy. PROSPERO CRD42019120503
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-06-2014
DOI: 10.1111/NEP.12239
Abstract: Lower preoperative haemoglobin and older age pose a risk for perioperative allogeneic blood transfusions (ABT). The presence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with low haemoglobin, greater bleeding and ABT utilization. The interaction between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and haemoglobin on perioperative ABT, length-of-stay and mortality was assessed in 86 patients with CKD stage 3 or higher undergoing elective total knee or hip arthroplasty compared with 294 without CKD. Multivariate analyses for ABT risk with haemoglobin, eGFR, age, gender, duration of surgery and primary versus revision surgery were performed. Patients with CKD had lower preoperative haemoglobin and higher incidence of ABT. Haemoglobin was independently associated with increased odds of ABT (0.74 (95% confidence interval 0.71-0.77), P = 0.001), but eGFR was not (0.98 (0.96-1.02), P = 0.089). Length-of-stay and 1 year mortality did not differ between non-transfused CKD patients and controls. Transfused CKD patients had significantly higher length-of-stay compared with transfused controls (25 ± 21 vs 19 ± 16 days, P < 0.0001), although 1 year mortality between transfused CKD patients and controls did not differ significantly. CKD alone, in the absence of anaemia, does not predispose to increased risk of ABT or length-of-stay in patients with mild-to-moderate CKD undergoing elective joint surgery. However, low haemoglobin is associated with increased ABT utilization and increased length-of-stay. Considering that 1 in 4 patients undergoing elective hip or knee arthroplasty has CKD, optimal preoperative patient blood management may improve outcome in this population.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 08-10-2020
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-2019
DOI: 10.1111/ANAE.14636
Abstract: Few studies have investigated if, and how, red cell transfusion and anaemia interact. We analysed 60,955 admissions to three metropolitan hospitals in Western Australia between 2008 and 2017 to determine whether the relationship between red cell transfusion and outcomes in surgical patients differed by lowest (nadir) level of haemoglobin. At levels above 100 g.l
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 10-09-2018
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-08-2014
DOI: 10.1111/TRF.12362
Abstract: We describe the implementation and impact of a patient blood management program (PBMP) in an Australian teaching hospital. A PBMP was introduced at a single tertiary care hospital in 2009 as a pilot for the Western Australian Health Department statewide PBMP. The first 3 years of interventions aimed to make effective use of preoperative clinics, manage perioperative anemia, improve perioperative hemostasis, reduce blood s le volumes, and implement restrictive transfusion triggers and a single-unit transfusion policy. Between 2008 and 2011, admissions to Fremantle Hospital and Health Services increased by 22%. Using 2008 as a reference year, the mean number of red blood cell (RBC) units per admission declined 26% by 2011. Use of fresh-frozen plasma and platelets showed 38 and 16% declines, respectively. Cryoprecipitate increased 7% over the 4-year period. For elective admissions between 2008 and 2011, the leading decline in RBC transfusion rate was seen in cardiothoracic surgery (27.5% to 12.8%). The proportion of single RBC unit use increased from 13% to 28% (p < 0.001), and the proportion of double units decreased from 48% to 37% (p < 0.001). This is the first tertiary hospital in Australia to establish a multidisciplinary multimodal PBMP. Interventions across disciplines resulted in decreased use of RBC units especially in orthopedic and cardiothoracic surgery. Continuing education and feedback to specialties will maintain the program, improve patient outcomes, and decrease the transfusion rate.
No related grants have been discovered for Axel Hofmann.