Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

8 questions · 8 findings · 1 reviews

No studies found 0 · 0%GRADE not reported 0 · 0%Very low 0 · 0%Low 1 · 12.5%Moderate 2 · 25%High 5 · 62.5%

Blood transfusion · Adults and children (haemodynamically stable) with potential need for RBC transfusion

Liberal leads to lower participants exposed to blood transfusion (all studies) compared with restrictive transfusion protocols (high certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Transfusion thresholds for guiding red blood cell transfusion 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
RR 0.59 [0.53, 0.66]
42 studies · 20057 participants
High

30‐Day mortality · Adults and children (haemodynamically stable) with potential need for RBC transfusion

Liberal showed no clear difference in 30‐Day mortality compared with restrictive transfusion protocols (high certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Transfusion thresholds for guiding red blood cell transfusion 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
RR 0.99 [0.86, 1.15]
31 studies · 16729 participants
High

Myocardial infarction · Adults and children (haemodynamically stable) with potential need for RBC transfusion

Liberal showed no clear difference in myocardial infarction compared with restrictive transfusion protocols (high certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Transfusion thresholds for guiding red blood cell transfusion 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
RR 1.04 [0.87, 1.24]
23 studies · 14370 participants
High

Congestive heart failure · Adults and children (haemodynamically stable) with potential need for RBC transfusion

Liberal showed no clear difference in congestive heart failure compared with restrictive transfusion protocols (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Transfusion thresholds for guiding red blood cell transfusion 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
RR 0.83 [0.53, 1.29]
16 studies · 7247 participants
Low

Stroke · Adults and children (haemodynamically stable) with potential need for RBC transfusion

Liberal showed no clear difference in cerebrovascular accident ‐ stroke compared with restrictive transfusion protocols (high certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Transfusion thresholds for guiding red blood cell transfusion 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
RR 0.84 [0.64, 1.09]
19 studies · 13985 participants
High

Rebleeding · Adults and children (haemodynamically stable) with potential need for RBC transfusion

Liberal showed no clear difference in rebleeding compared with restrictive transfusion protocols (moderate certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Transfusion thresholds for guiding red blood cell transfusion 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
RR 0.8 [0.59, 1.09]
8 studies · 3412 participants
Moderate

Thromboembolism · Adults and children (haemodynamically stable) with potential need for RBC transfusion

Liberal showed no clear difference in thromboembolism compared with restrictive transfusion protocols (moderate certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Transfusion thresholds for guiding red blood cell transfusion 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
OR 1.11 [0.65, 1.88]
13 studies · 4201 participants
Moderate

Infection · Adults and children (haemodynamically stable) with potential need for RBC transfusion

Liberal showed no clear difference in infection compared with restrictive transfusion protocols (high certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Transfusion thresholds for guiding red blood cell transfusion 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
RR 0.97 [0.88, 1.07]
25 studies · 17104 participants
High