Red Blood Cell Transfusion Characteristics and Morbidity or Mortality in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants - Summary - MDSpire

Red Blood Cell Transfusion Characteristics and Morbidity or Mortality in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants

  • By

  • Jeanne E. Hendrickson

  • Rebecca J. Birch

  • Elizabeth A. K. Rowley

  • Martha Sola-Visner

  • Brian R. Branchford

  • Xuxin Chen

  • Brian Custer

  • Robert A. DeSimone

  • Daniel W. Bougie

  • Erika M. Edwards

  • Ruchika Goel

  • Jerome Gottschall

  • Eldad A. Hod

  • Morvarid Moayeri

  • Nareg H. Roubinian

  • Oliver Karam

  • Jeffrey J. VanWormer

  • Elizabeth F. Stone

  • Naomi L. C. Luban

  • Cassandra D. Josephson

  • Ravi M. Patel

  • NHLBI Recipient Epidemiology Donor Evaluation Study–IV–Pediatric (REDS-IV-P)

  • Alan E. Mast

  • Lisa Baumann Kreuziger

  • Elliott P. Vichinsky

  • Bryan R. Spencer

  • Bruce S. Sachais

  • Kathy Chapman

  • Philip J. Norris

  • Mars Stone

  • Paul M. Ness

  • Steve H. Kleinman

  • June 24, 2026

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To identify modifiable transfusion characteristics associated with serious morbidity and mortality in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants, including blood donor characteristics, RBC unit attributes, pretransfusion hemoglobin levels, and transfusion volumes.

Approach:
  • Study Design: A prospective cohort study of VLBW infants receiving RBC transfusions across US hospitals participating in the REDS-IV-P.
  • Data Sources: Utilized linked databases including the REDS-IV-P Vein-to-Vein database, Vermont Oxford Network, and electronic medical records.
  • Outcome Measures: Primary outcome was a composite measure of serious adverse events including IVH, NEC, sepsis, BPD, ROP, or death.
  • Statistical Analysis: Used generalized estimating equations and Cox proportional hazard modeling to assess associations between transfusion characteristics and outcomes.
Key Findings:
  • More than half of VLBW infants receive RBC transfusions, with specific transfusion characteristics potentially impacting morbidity and mortality outcomes.
  • No significant difference in outcomes was observed based on higher vs lower RBC transfusion thresholds.
Interpretation:

The study explores how specific transfusion characteristics affect health outcomes in VLBW infants, addressing gaps in previous research focused solely on transfusion thresholds.

Limitations:
  • Study limited to infants in participating hospitals, which may affect generalizability.
  • Potential confounding factors, such as variations in clinical practices and patient demographics, were not fully accounted for in the analysis.
Conclusion:

The study provides insights into the relationship between transfusion characteristics and adverse outcomes in VLBW infants.

Original Source(s)

Red Blood Cell Transfusion Characteristics and Morbidity or Mortality in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants

  • by Jeanne E. Hendrickson, Rebecca J. Birch, Elizabeth A. K. Rowley, Martha Sola-Visner, Brian R. Branchford, Xuxin Chen, Brian Custer, Robert A. DeSimone, Daniel W. Bougie, Erika M. Edwards, Ruchika Goel, Jerome Gottschall, Eldad A. Hod, Morvarid Moayeri, Nareg H. Roubinian, Oliver Karam, Jeffrey J. VanWormer, Elizabeth F. Stone, Naomi L. C. Luban, Cassandra D. Josephson, Ravi M. Patel, NHLBI Recipient Epidemiology Donor Evaluation Study–IV–Pediatric (REDS-IV-P), Alan E. Mast, Lisa Baumann Kreuziger, Elliott P. Vichinsky, Bryan R. Spencer, Bruce S. Sachais, Kathy Chapman, Philip J. Norris, Mars Stone, Paul M. Ness, Steve H. Kleinman

  • June 24, 2026

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