Turkish Journal of Geriatrics 2015 , Vol 18, Issue 2
THE EFFECTS OF ANEMIA AND RED CELL TRANSFUSION ON THE RISK OF MORTALITY AMONG GERIATRIC AND NON-GERIATRIC PATIENTS WITH HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS IN AN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
Leyla KUTLUCAN1, Ali KUTLUCAN2, Abdulkadir BAÅžURK3, Hayati KANDÄ°Åž4, Hafize TÄ°TÄ°Z5, Elif ÅžENOCAK5, Mehmet DAÄžLI2, Handan ANKARALI6
1Konya Training and Research Hospital, Department of Anesthesiology, KONYA
2Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine , Department of Hematology, KONYA
3Konya Training and Research Hospital, Department of Hematology, KONYA
4Duzce University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, DUZCE
5 Duzce University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, DUZCE
6Duzce University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biostatistics, DUZCE
7 Duzce University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, DUZCE
Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the effects of anemia and red blood cell transfusion on the risk of mortality in geriatric and non-geriatric Intensive Care Unit patients with Hospital- Acquired Infection.

Materials and Method: This study included 546 patients aged ≥18 years; from these, 112 patients had Hospital-Acquired Infection.

Results: Among the patients aged ≥65 years with Hospital-Acquired Infection who were treated in the medical Intensive Care Unit, the risk of mortality was significantly increased in patients with anemia or history of diabetes; in patients who were intubated or in patients with neurological disorders or respiratory failure. Although the abovementioned factors increased the risk of mortality in the elderly, the same relationship was not observed in patients aged<65 years. In addition, blood transfusion did not increase the risk of mortality in patients belonging to both the age groups.

Conclusion: We conclude that in geriatric Intensive Care Unit patients with Hospital-Acquired Infection, anemia increases the risk of mortality but red cell transfusion does not affect the risk of mortality. Keywords : Intensive Care Unit; Cross Infection; Geriatrics; Anemia; Erythrocyte Transfusion