Estimating the Epidemiological and Economic Impact of Implementing Preoperative Anaemia Measures in the German Healthcare System: The Health Economic Footprint of Patient Blood Management

Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Impact Analyses of Patient Blood Management in a Cardiovascular Surgery Department at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital in Turkey

INTRODUCTION

Anemia and transfusion of blood products are risk factors associated with poor patient outcomes across all elective surgeries. Patient blood management (PBM) is a patient-centered approach to optimize patient's endogenous red cell mass, to minimize blood loss in patients undergoing surgery, and to harness and optimize patient-specific physiological tolerance to anemia. This study aimed to assess (1) the impact of PBM on blood product usage in cardiovascular surgeries in a state hospital setting, (2) cost-effectiveness of PBM with a model based on transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs) in cardiovascular surgeries, and (3) the budget impact of PBM implementation based on transfusion of RBCs.

METHODS

Cost-effectiveness and budget impact models, based on the numbers of avoided transfusions and avoided complications after implementation of the PBM program, were compared between pre- and post-PBM periods at the cardiovascular surgery department of Ankara Bilkent City Hospital between February 11, 2019 and July 24, 2022. The probabilities of transfusions and complications with and without PBM were taken from recent meta-analyses. Data from the Ankara Bilkent City Hospital transfusion center informed the pre- and post-PBM calculations. Costs were calculated from the Social Security Institution's perspective.

RESULTS

There was a 21% decrease in the use of RBCs and a 23.7% decrease in use of all blood products after the implementation of PBM. The number of RBC packs per patient reduced by 0.88 packs (21%). The cost saving from reduction of RBC transfusions per patient was 518.68 Turkish lira (TRY) and for the hospital it was 1,635,948 TRY. Fewer complications and lower costs in favor of the post-PBM arm were demonstrated in the cost-effectiveness analysis. On the basis of the budget impact model, in 20 months, the hospital's cardiovascular surgery department saved 6,596,934 TRY (€342,302).

CONCLUSION

This hospital-based study demonstrated that PBM is a budget-saving and cost-effective option in Turkey.

[Implementation of Patient Blood Management as Standard-of-Care]

Anaemia is among the most common co-morbidity in surgical patients. However, it often remains unrecognized and untreated, which results in an increased requirement for allogeneic blood products and complications. Patient Blood Management offers patient-centred and evidence-based therapies and preventive measures for anaemia. Patient Blood Management is composed of 3 main pillars: pre-operative anaemia management, blood loss reduction and the rational use of allogeneic blood products. The World Health Organization demands the implementation of Patient Blood Management measures since 2010. However, a comprehensive implementation of Patient Blood Management as a standard-of-care is still not achieved. Here, we describe the need for a comprehensive Patient Blood Management implementation and highlight several specific Patient Blood Management measures.

Malnutrition is positively associated with cognitive decline in centenarians and oldest-old adults: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Cognitive decline is a growing public health concern. However, presently, only a few large-scale studies are available on the prevalence of cognitive decline worldwide, and the relationship between nutrition and cognitive decline remains unclear and requires further investigation, especially among Chinese centenarians and oldest-old adults. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of cognitive decline among Chinese centenarians and oldest-old adults, its associated factors, and explore a possible connection with nutrition, to provide new directions for the prevention of cognitive decline in Chinese centenarians and oldest-old adults.

METHODS

Based on the China Hainan Centenarian Cohort Study (CHCCS), a household survey was conducted among all the centenarians and oldest-old adults residing in 16 cities and counties of Hainan province from June 2014 to June 2016. This study included 946 centenarians and oldest-old adults (412 and 534, respectively). Cognitive function was measured using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE).

FINDINGS

The total prevalence of cognitive decline was 76·6% (725 participants). Centenarians had a significantly higher prevalence of cognitive decline compared to oldest-old adults [359 centenarians (87·1%) vs. 366 oldest-old adults (68·5%)]. Centenarians and oldest-old adults with cognitive decline had significantly lower prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and mini nutrition assessment-short form (MNA-SF) than those without cognitive decline (P < 0·05). Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that participants with higher PNI and MNA-SF were less likely to have cognitive decline. Multivariate linear regression analyses showed that PNI and MNA-SF were positively associated with MMSE (P < 0·05).

INTERPRETATION

Malnutrition was positively associated with cognitive decline among Chinese centenarians and oldest-old adults. It is therefore important for clinicians and community health workers to pay attention to malnutrition in these populations and provide supplemental nutrients to prevent cognitive decline.

FUNDING

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81900357, 81903392, 81941021, 81901252, 82001476, 81802804, 81801251), the Military Medical Science and Technology Youth Incubation Program (20QNPY110, 19QNP060), the Excellent Youth Incubation Program of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital (2020-YQPY-007), the Military Medicine Youth Program of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital (QNF19069, QNF19068), the National Key R&D Program of China (2018YFC2000400), the National S&D Resource Sharing Service Platform Project of China (YCZYPT[2018]07), the Innovation Platform for Academinicians of Hainan Province, the Hainan Major Scientific and Technological Cooperation Project (2016KJHZ0039), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation funded project (2019M650359, 2020M682816, 2021T140298), the Medical Big Data R&D Project of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital (MBD2018030), the National Geriatric Disease Clinical Medicine Research centre Project (NCRCG-PLAGH-2017-014), the Central Health Care Scientific Research Project (W2017BJ12), the Hainan Medical and Health Research Project (16A200057), the Sanya Medical and Health Science and Technology Innovation Project (2016YW21, 2017YW22, 2018YW11), and the Clinical Scientific Research Supporting Fund of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital (2017FC-CXYY-3009).

Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Impact of Comprehensive Anemia Management, The First Pillar of Patient Blood Management, on the Turkish Healthcare System

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Reticulocyte and Erythrocyte Hemoglobin Parameters for Iron Deficiency and Anemia Diagnostics in Patient Blood Management. A Narrative Review

Anemia, iron deficiency and other hematinic deficiencies are a major cause of perioperative transfusion needs and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Anemia can be caused either by decreased production of hemoglobin or red blood cells or by increased consumption and blood loss. Decreased production can involve anything from erythropoietin or vitamin B12 insufficiency to absolute or functional lack of iron. Thus, to achieve the goal of patient blood management, anemia must be addressed by addressing its causes. The traditional parameters to diagnose anemia, despite offering elaborate options, are not ideally suited to giving a simple overview of the causes of anemia, e.g., iron status for erythropoiesis, especially during the acute phase of inflammation, acute blood loss or iron deficiency. Reticulocyte hemoglobin can thus help to uncover the cause of the anemia and to identify the main factors inhibiting erythropoiesis. Regardless of the cause of anemia, reticulocyte hemoglobin can also quickly track the success of therapy and, together with the regular full blood count it is measured alongside, help in clearing the patient for surgery.

Impact of gender parity on preoperative anaemia prevalence and Patient Blood Management practice

BACKGROUND

Anaemia is a common finding in the preoperative setting, affecting around one-third of patients for whom major surgery is programmed. Moreover, preoperative anaemia has been shown to worsen patient outcome and increase length of hospital stay and costs. In the field of preoperative anaemia correction, a recent Consensus statement suggested reviewing the classic World Health Organization (WHO) criteria in adults by aligning the haemoglobin cut-off to 13 g/dL for both genders. The aim of our study was to assess the differences in terms of prevalence, transfusion rate, transfusion trigger, and blood losses according to gender in a mixed population of surgical patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We reviewed data of 610 consecutive patients undergoing elective major surgery at a tertiary care hospital during a 9-month period. Transfusion rate and transfusion triggers were recorded, analysed and stratified by haemoglobin class, with a particular focus on the 12.0-12.9 g/dL range.

RESULTS

Since the anaemia threshold was redefined at 13 g/dL for both genders, its prevalence rose from 26.4 to 39.5% (161/610 vs 241/610; p<0.001) in the overall population and from 22.7 to 49.3% (68/300 vs 148/300; p<0.001) in women. Eighty women (26.7%) fell in the haemoglobin 12.0-12.9 g/dL range, and this category was the most represented among transfused women (34.0%). There was no statistical difference in transfusion triggers or overall transfusion rate between genders. Subjects of both genders were transfused at the same haemoglobin level (8.1 g/dL), but women reached the transfusion trigger after less red cell mass loss than men, i.e. 377 mL (249-472 mL) vs 528 mL (356-717 mL), respectively (p<0.001).

DISCUSSION

Treatment of pre-surgical anaemia is one of the core principles of Patient Blood Management. Aligning the haemoglobin threshold between genders in the management of pre-surgical anaemia may result in a lower transfusion rate, but in an increased workload for medical staff in the preoperative phase.

Making patient blood management the new norm(al) as experienced by implementors in diverse countries

BACKGROUND

Patient blood management (PBM) describes a set of evidence-based practices to optimize medical and surgical patient outcomes by clinically managing and preserving a patient's own blood. This concepts aims to detect and treat anemia, minimize the risk for blood loss and the need for blood replacement for each patient through a coordinated multidisciplinary care process. In combination with blood loss, anemia is the main driver for transfusion and all three are independent risk factors for adverse outcomes including morbidity and mortality. Evidence demonstrates that PBM significantly improves outcomes and safety while reducing cost by macroeconomic magnitudes. Despite its huge potential to improve healthcare systems, PBM is not yet adopted broadly. The aim of this study is to analyze the collective experiences of a diverse group of PBM implementors across countries reflecting different healthcare contexts and to use these experiences to develop a guidance for initiating and orchestrating PBM implementation for stakeholders from diverse professional backgrounds.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 1-4 PBM implementors from 12 countries in Asia, Latin America, Australia, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Responses reflecting the drivers, barriers, measures, and stakeholders regarding the implementation of PBM were summarized per country and underwent qualitative content analysis. Clustering the resulting implementation measures by levels of intervention for PBM implementation informed a PBM implementation framework.

RESULTS

A set of PBM implementation measures were extracted from the interviews with the implementors. Most of these measures relate to one of six levels of implementation including government, healthcare providers, funding, research, training/education, and patients/public. Essential cross-level measures are multi-stakeholder communication and collaboration.

CONCLUSION

The implementation matrix resulting from this research helps to decompose the complexity of PBM implementation into concrete measures on each implementation level. It provides guidance for diverse stakeholders to design, initiate and develop strategies and plans to make PBM a national standard of care, thus closing current practice gaps and matching this unmet public health need.

Predictors for Perioperative Blood Transfusion in Patients Undergoing Open Cystectomy and Urinary Diversion and Development of a Nomogram: An Observational Cohort Study

Open radical cystectomy is associated with a substantial rate of perioperative blood transfusion. Early detection of potentially modifiable perioperative factors could reduce the need for perioperative blood transfusion and thus positively impact the outcome. We conducted an observational, single-center cohort study of 1168 patients undergoing cystectomy. Perioperative blood transfusion was defined as the need for packed red blood cells and/or fresh frozen plasma units within the first 24 h after the initiation of surgery. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to model the association between risk factors and blood transfusion, and a nomogram was developed. Blood transfusion occurred in 370/1168 patients (31.7%). Significant predictors were age (OR: 1.678, (95% CI: 1.379–2.042); p < 0.001), blood loss ratio (6.572, (4.878–8.853); p < 0.001), preoperative hemoglobin (0.316, (0.255–0.391); p < 0.001), tumor stage (2.067, (1.317–3.244); p = 0.002), use of oral anticoagulants (2.70, (1.163–6.270), p = 0.021), and interaction between female sex and blood loss ratio (1.344, (1.011–1.787); p = 0.042). Of the major predictors found to affect perioperative blood transfusion, two can be influenced: blood loss ratio by meticulous surgery and hemoglobin by preoperative optimization. Others such as age or advanced disease are not modifiable. This emphasizes the importance of optimal management of patients prior to surgery.

Current concepts in the evaluation and management of preoperative anemia

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In the past years, patient blood management (PBM) has evolved to improve patient's care and safety. Anemia is one of the most common medical diseases in the world and is an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Iron deficiency is the main cause for anemia and constitutes a potentially preventable condition with a great impact on surgical outcome. However, preoperative anemia management is not yet established in most hospitals. Changing workflows and re-thinking is challenging. Numerous published studies confirmed the positive effect of preoperative anemia diagnosis and treatment recently.

RECENT FINDINGS

Iron supplementation in iron-deficient anemic (IDA) patients reduce the need for allogenic blood transfusion thereby improving perioperative outcome.

SUMMARY

Since the introduction of PBM programs, important movements towards early detection and therapy of preoperative anemia have been observed. However, preoperative anemia management is not implemented on a large scale as many healthcare professionals are not aware of the most recent findings in the field. Preoperative anemia management, particularly iron supplementation in IDA patients, has proven to be highly effective and has a tremendous effect on patient safety and outcome.

Non-invasive haemoglobin measurement as an index test to detect pre-operative anaemia in elective surgery patients - a prospective study

Non-invasive haemoglobin measurement using absolute values lacks the precision to be the sole basis for the treatment of pre-operative anaemia. However, it can possibly serve as a screening test, indexing 'anaemia' with high sensitivity when values remain under prespecified cut-off values. Based on previous data, non-invasive haemoglobin cut-off values (146 g.l^-1 for women and 152 g.l^-1 for men) detect true anaemia with 99% sensitivity. An index test with these prespecified cut-off values was verified by prospective measurement of non-invasive and invasive haemoglobin pre-operatively in elective surgical patients. In 809 patients, this showed an estimated sensitivity (95%CI) of 98.9% (94.1-99.9%) in women and 96.4% (91.0-99.0%) in men. This saved invasive blood tests in 9% of female and 28% of male patients. In female patients, a lower non-invasive haemoglobin cut-off value (138 g.l^-1 ) would save 28% of invasive blood tests with a sensitivity of 95%. The target 99% sensitivity would be reached by non-invasive haemoglobin cut-off values of 152 g.l^-1 in female and 162 g.l^-1 in male patients, saving 3% and 9% of invasive blood tests, respectively. Bias and limits of agreement between non-invasive and laboratory haemoglobin levels were 2 and - 25 to 28 g.l^-1 , respectively. Patient and measurement characteristics did not influence the agreement between non-invasive and laboratory haemoglobin levels. Although sensitivity was very high, the index test using prespecified cut-off values just failed to reach the target sensitivity to detect true anaemia. Nevertheless, with respect to blood-sparing effects, the use of the index test in men may be clinically useful, while an index test with a lower cut-off (132 g.l^-1 ) could be more clinically appropriate in women.