Prevalence and causes of preoperative anaemia in elective major surgery patients

Abstract

Preoperative anaemia affects 13.9% of patients undergoing elective major surgery. The most common causes are iron deficiency and chronic diseases. The cause was unexplained in 25.5% of patients with anaemia. The prevalence of anaemia in different surgical specialties may have implications on the approach to screening, particularly in resource-limited areas.

Author reply

“…With respect to our study on the prevalence of preoperative anaemia among elective major surgery patients, 1 Kearney and To have raised a pertinent point in clinical medicine, that is, the accurate and reliable identification of patients with iron deficiency particularly in the setting of inflammation. 2 Based on the guideline from the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia, 3 we used serum ferritin <30 μg/L as diagnostic of iron deficiency.…”

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“…4 In the colorectal surgical population (where patients may have impaired iron absorption), preoperative anemia is present in approximately 36% of patients. 4 In the orthopaedic surgery population, a recent Australian study found that 13.9% of patients in an elective surgical cohort were anaemic. 4 These figures mirror the results of another Australian, nationwide audit undertaken by Blood Matters, Victoria, that found 14% of orthopaedic surgery patients to be anaemic.…”

“…4 In the orthopaedic surgery population, a recent Australian study found that 13.9% of patients in an elective surgical cohort were anaemic. 4 These figures mirror the results of another Australian, nationwide audit undertaken by Blood Matters, Victoria, that found 14% of orthopaedic surgery patients to be anaemic. 5 These patient groups can be responsible for between 42% and 83% of blood transfusions provided to patients postoperatively.…”

“…The prevalence of preoperative anemia varies according to patient co-morbidities. 4 In the colorectal surgical population (where patients may have impaired iron absorption), preoperative anemia is present in approximately 36% of patients. 4 In the orthopaedic surgery population, a recent Australian study found that 13.9% of patients in an elective surgical cohort were anaemic.…”

Is serum ferritin a reliable indicator of iron status in elective major surgery patients?

“…We congratulate Hong et al . for their report on the prevalence and causes of pre‐operative anaemia in elective major surgery.…”