Blood usage at a large academic center in Maryland in relation to the COVID‐19 pandemic in 2020

Murphy, Colin; Fontaine, Magali; Luethy, Paul; McGann, Heather; Jackson, Bryon

BACKGROUND: Blood usage and collections were impacted throughout 2020 both by the severity of the COVID‐19 pandemic as well as public health decisions affecting hospital operations. We sought to understand the longer‐term effects of the pandemic on blood usage via changes in case volume and clinical intensity as well as whether the blood needs of COVID‐19‐positive patients differed from other transfused patients. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A single‐center retrospective study of blood use in 2020 as compared to 2014–2019 was conducted at a tertiary care center. Statistical analysis was performed in an R‐based workflow. p values are reported using two‐sided t‐tests for total hospital blood usage and using Mann–Whitney U tests for comparisons of patient blood usage. RESULTS: Mean monthly red cell usage in 2020 decreased by 11.2% (p = .003), plasma usage decreased by 23.8%, (p < .001) platelet usage decreased by 11.4% (p < .001), and monthly cryoprecipitate use increased by 18% (p = .03). A linear regression model predicted significant associations between total blood usage and the year, number of Medicare eligible discharges, and Case Mix Index. COVID‐19‐positive patients requiring at least one blood product did not use significantly different amounts of red cells, plasma, or platelets from all other transfused patients. CONCLUSIONS: Year 2020 began with decreased blood usage that was normalized by late spring. Reassuringly, transfused COVID‐19‐positive patients in general and those requiring ICU level care do not use significantly increased amounts of blood as compared to similar transfused hospital patients.