People who have had a myocardial infarction and suffer from anemia have less risk of recurrence if they receive a transfusion of a larger quantity of blood.
- A normal hemoglobin level is 12 to 13 g/dL. In cases of heart attack and anemia, it is less than 10 g/dL.
- Receiving a blood transfusion with a blood count greater than 10 g/dL reduced the risk of recurrence in patients who were anemic and had suffered a myocardial infarction.
- This liberal approach also improved survival rates.
A recommendation to administer a transfusion only when the hemoglobin level falls below 7 or 8 g per deciliter has been widely adopted. However, adults who have had a heart attack may benefit from higher hemoglobin levels, according to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh (United States).
Patients had hemoglobin levels less than 10 g/dL
In recent work, they wanted to provide evidence that could be used to establish transfusion standards for patients who have suffered a myocardial infarction in order to improve their survival rate and reduce the risk of recurrence. For the purposes of the study, scientists recruited 3,504 people, aged on average 72 years, registered in 144 hospitals in six countries.
All participants had a heart attack and had anemia, meaning they had hemoglobin levels below 10 g/dL. As a reminder, a normal level is 12 to 13 g/dL. As part of the research, half of the volunteers received more blood (i.e. a blood count higher than 10 grams per deciliter), which is done as part of a liberal approach. The others received a blood transfusion with a blood count of eight g/dL.
Heart attack, anemia: liberal approach reduces risk of recurrence and improves survival rates
Transfusing more blood may improve health outcomes in people with anemia and heart attacks, according to the findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine. “without causing undue harm”. In detail, the team found that the frequency of mortality or recurrent heart attack was 2.4% lower when a liberal approach was used. The authors emphasize that more research needs to be done to ensure doctors have the best evidence when considering transfusing patients who have had a heart attack and have anemia.
