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Longer storage duration of red blood cell (RBC) units prior to transfusion has been associated with worse outcomes in observational studies. We performed a systematic review, including recently published randomized trials, to determine if storage age of RBCs is associated with mortality, morbidity or adverse events in patients. Searches were performed up to 21st July 2017 in Medline (OvidSP), 20 July in EMBASE (OvidSP) and June 2017 in Cochrane Library. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials comparing transfusion of fresher or freshest available with older or standard issue RBCs. Human volunteer and autologous RBC transfusion studies were excluded. Data were extracted from published reports independently by 2 authors and strength of evidence assessed according to GRADE criteria. The primary outcome was latest-reported mortality. Sixteen trials randomizing 31,359 patients were identified. Transfusion with fresher compared with older RBC was not associated with risk of death (relative risk [RR] 1.04, 95% CI 0.98-1.09; P=.20, I2=0%, high quality evidence), but was associated with higher risk of transfusion reactions (RR 1.35, 95% CI 1.04-1.76; P=.02; I2=0%; high quality evidence) and infection (RR 1.08, 95% CI 1.00-1.17; P=.05; I2=0%, moderate evidence). Trial sequential analysis showed required information size has now been reached to exclude a 10% relative risk increase or decrease in mortality. Transfusion of fresher RBCs is not associated with decreased risk of death but is associated with higher rates of transfusion reactions and possibly infection. The current evidence does not support a change from current usual transfusion practice.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.tmrv.2018.02.002

Type

Journal

Transfusion medicine reviews

Publication Date

04/2018

Volume

32

Pages

77 - 88

Addresses

Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Transfusion Research Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Haematology, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: zoe.mcquilten@monash.edu.

Keywords

Erythrocytes, Humans, Blood Preservation, Erythrocyte Transfusion, Risk, Age Factors, Time Factors, Clinical Trials as Topic, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic