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Study Led by Rutgers Health Finds That Increased Blood Transfusions Can Save Lives
A new study led by Rutgers Health has found that providing more blood transfusions to heart attack patients suffering from anemia may significantly lower their six-month mortality rate. The research, published in NEJM Evidence, confirms earlier findings from a 2023 trial suggesting that anemic patients who received fewer blood transfusions were more likely to experience higher rates of mortality and recurrent heart attacks.
The study was spearheaded by Dr. Jeffrey L. Carson, a Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, who has been at the forefront of research on blood transfusion strategies for nearly two decades. The findings were drawn from data collected across four clinical trials, which included 4,311 heart attack patients with low blood counts. These patients were divided into two groups: one group received fewer transfusions, while the other received more. The researchers examined the effects of transfusion frequency on the likelihood of death or recurrent heart attack at both 30 days and six months post-treatment.
The analysis revealed that while there was no definitive increase in mortality or recurrent heart attacks at the 30-day mark for patients receiving fewer transfusions, there was a clear association between fewer transfusions and a higher risk of death at the six-month follow-up. Notably, patients who received a more liberal approach to transfusions saw a 2.4% lower frequency of mortality or recurrent heart attacks.
Dr. Carson, who also led the earlier MINT (Myocardial Infarction and Transfusion) trial in 2023, emphasized that these results provide further evidence that more blood transfusions can improve outcomes for anemic patients after a heart attack. “The results of this analysis show that giving more blood to anemic patients with heart attacks can save lives at six months,” said Carson.
The study’s participants were primarily elderly, with an average age of 72, and many had pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, heart failure, or kidney disease. Approximately 45% of the participants were women. The research builds on Carson’s earlier work, which helped shape the transfusion guidelines adopted in 2012. These guidelines were updated last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association, emphasizing an individualized approach that takes into account patients’ underlying health conditions, preferences, and symptoms.
Dr. Carson’s extensive research on red blood cell transfusion strategies aims to provide optimal care for patients, particularly those with heart conditions. His findings underscore the importance of considering a more aggressive transfusion approach for anemic patients following a heart attack to improve long-term outcomes.
For more detailed information, the full study can be accessed in NEJM Evidence (2024), under the title “Restrictive versus Liberal Transfusion in Myocardial Infarction — A Patient-Level Meta-Analysis.”
Source: Jeffrey L. Carson et al, NEJM Evidence (2024), DOI: 10.1056/EVIDoa2400223
