Hemodynamics, fluids & transfusion
Pharmacotherapy for Reducing RBC Transfusion for Patients in the ICU: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis
Authors' conclusion
Combination therapy with iron and Epo likely reduces the requirement for RBC transfusion and may be less harmful than other therapies.
Study context
- Population
- Patients in the ICU
- Participants
- 15,091 patients · 75 studies
- Comparison
- Epo, iron, iron + Epo combination, hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor (HIF-PHI), VD3 vs placebo/no treatment
- Outcome
- Requirement for RBC transfusion
Methodological detailsfrequentist network meta-analysis, random effects model, confidence in network meta-analysis (NMA) rated
- Frequentist network meta-analysis
- Random effects model
- Confidence in NMA rated
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Each group vs Placebo/no treatmentRelative risk (95% CI)
Combination therapyconfidence rating: moderate
0.60(0.49–0.74)
Epoconfidence rating: low
0.81(0.63–1.04)
Ironconfidence rating: low
0.83(0.70–0.98)
Safety
| Outcome | RR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| VTECombination therapy vs Placebo/no treatment · confidence rating: low | 0.73 (0.25–2.08) | |
| InfectionEpo vs Placebo/no treatment · confidence rating: low; may increase infections | 1.27 (0.94–1.73) | |
| 0.20.5125Relative risk (log scale) |
Venous thromboembolism (VTE)
- Epo and iron monotherapy may not increase VTE prevalence
Infection
- Combination therapy and iron monotherapy may not increase infection prevalence
Original publication
Pharmacotherapy for Reducing RBC Transfusion for Patients in the ICU: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. Crit Care Med. Published 13 November 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →