Study suggests preoperative iron infusions work better than blood transfusions for some anemic patients
In a rigorous medical records study covering tens of thousands of patients, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers conclude that some patients with preoperative anemia have better outcomes if they get iron infusions before surgery rather than standard red blood cell transfusions.
The findings, published July 22 in Anesthesia & Analgesia, contribute to mounting evidence that such iron infusions, which boost the production of a person’s own red blood cells, are better than relying on someone else’s blood.
In the new study, the Johns Hopkins Medicine research team used data from the TriNetX Research Network database, a global network of healthcare organizations that pool de-identified patient information. The team’s analysis used such information gathered between 2003 and 2023 on 154,358 patients over 18 years old with a diagnosis of iron-deficient anemia prior to surgery.
The data were sorted into groups of patients who were treated with iron preoperatively but not with a blood transfusion, and patients who received a preoperative blood transfusion but no iron infusion. These infusions happened several weeks before a scheduled surgical procedure. Researchers then compared postoperative complication rates including respiratory problems, kidney issues, blood clots, infections and death rates.
From this review, researchers found a 37% reduction in mortality and a 24% reduction in morbidity (complications) in patients who were treated with iron infusions compared with those treated with blood transfusions. This finding means that patients receiving iron infusions may recover more quickly and fully from their surgical procedures without any added complications that may arise from a blood transfusion.
