Pre-operative anaemia is associated with total morbidity burden on days 3 and 5 after cardiac surgery: a cohort study

Summary

BACKGROUND: Pre-operative anaemia is associated with mortality and red blood cell (RBC) transfusion requirement after cardiac surgery. However, the effect on post-operative total morbidity burden (TMB) is unknown. We explored the effect of pre-operative anaemia on post-operative TMB. METHODS: = 442). C-POMS describes and quantifies (0-13) TMB after cardiac surgery by noting the presence/absence of 13 morbidity domains on days 3 (D3), 5 (D5), 8 (D8) and 15 (D15). Anaemia was defined as a haemoglobin concentration below 130 g/l for men and 120 g/l for women. RESULTS: 0.026 to <0.001). Pre-operative anaemia and RBC transfusion were independently associated with increased C-POMS score. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-operative anaemia and RBC transfusion are independently associated with increased post-opera