Table 1 Characteristics of the 9 RCTs included in the final analysis of transfusion strategies and infection risk.

Study, year	Age (years)	Country	Surgery	Transfusion threshold		RCT Size	Infection	No. of Infections
Study, year	Age (years)	Country	Surgery	R	L	RCT Size	Infection	Events(R)	Total(R)	Events(L)	total(L)
Carson¹⁸	82.3 ± 9.5	US and Scotland	hip fracture repair	Hb < 8.0 g/dL in the absence of symptoms or symptomatic anemia	Hb < 10.0 g/dL	84	Pneumonia	0	42	2	42
Grover⁹	≥55	southeast England	elective lower limb joint replacement	Hb < 8.0 g/dL, maintenance range, 8.0–9.5 g/dL	Hb < 10.0 g/dL, maintenance range, 10.0–12.0 g/dL	218	Chest infection	2	109	3	109
							Wound infection	2	109	2	109
Foss¹⁹	≥65	Denmark	hip fracture repair	Hb < 8.0 g/dL	Hb < 10.0 g/dL	120	pneumonia	1	60	2	60
							Wound infection	0	60	3	60
							all infections	6	60	11	60
So-Osman¹²	≥18	Dutch	hip or knee replacement	threshold range, 6.4–9.7 g/dL	Varied by hospital, age and condition of patients, symptoms and time	619	Infections	18	299	31	304
Carson¹⁴	≥50	US and Canada	hip fracture repair	Symptomatic anemia or if Hb < 8.0 g/dl	Hb < 10.0 g/dL	2016	Wound infection	8	1007	14	1005
Parker⁶	≥60	Canada	hip fracture surgery	8.0–9.5 g/dL and symptomatic anemia	8.0–9.5 g/dL	200	Pneumonia	2	100	5	100
							Wound infection	3	100	1	100
							All infections	6	100	6	100
Gruber-Baldini⁷	≥50	US and Canada	hip fracture repair	symptoms or ≤ 8 g/dL	≤ 10 g/dL	139	Infection	3	72	3	66
Fan⁸	>65	China	hip replacement	Symptomatic anemia or if Hb < 8.0 g/dl, maintenance range, 8.0–10 g/dL	maintenance ≥ 10 g/dL	192	Pneumonia	3	94	3	92
							Wound infection	2	94	3	92
							All infections	8	94	10	92

Note: R represents restrictive blood transfusion strategies; L represents liberal blood transfusion strategies.

Quick links

Search