Abstract
Objective This study aims to assess the association of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion in a cohort of preterm infants with mortality, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and chronic lung disease (CLD) transfused at ≥ 21 days of life.
Study Design and Methods This retrospective cohort study included infants born at < 30 weeks' gestation who survived ≥ 21 days, had not received any RBC transfusions before reaching 21 days of age, and were admitted to participating units in the Canadian neonatal network (2003–2009).
Results Out of the 3,799 eligible infants, 3,309 infants did not receive RBC transfusion at ≥ 21 days of age, whereas 490 received transfusion at ≥ 21 days of age. Infants who did not receive RBC transfusion/s at ≥ 21 days of age had higher birth weight (p < 0.01) and higher gestational age at the time of birth (p < 0.01) as compared with those who received transfusion/s at ≥ 21 days of age. Receipt of RBC transfusion/s at ≥ 21 days of age was not associated with mortality (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.33–4.34) or severe ROP (AOR 1.02; 95% CI 0.59–1.77) but was associated with increased odds of CLD (AOR 1.78; 95% CI 1.43–2.22).
Conclusion RBC transfusion/s at ≥ 21 days of age in previously transfusion-naive preterm infants was associated with increased odds of CLD but not with ROP or mortality.
Keywords
infant - newborn - premature - red blood cell transfusion - adverse effects
