An investigation of the early and late period effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on blood use and destruction rates: An example of a tertiary hospital, Antalya, Türkiye

Year 2022, Volume: 5 Issue: 2, 109 - 120, 30.08.2022

Belkıs Koçtekin Volkan Karakuş Erdal Kurtoğlu

https://doi.org/10.56150/tjhsl.1115704

Abstract

Introduction and Objective: The Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected many healthcare services as well as transfusion medicine practices. In this study, it is aimed to examine the early and late effects of the pandemic on the use and destruction rates of blood and blood components.
Material and method: This retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary hospital transfusion center. Unit numbers of blood and blood components used and destroyed in 2018-2021 were grouped according to the pre-pandemic period (27 months), early pandemic period (6 months), and late pandemic period (15 months). Monthly use and disposals in the early and late pandemic periods were compared with the pre-pandemic period.
Results: A total of 144114 units of blood and blood components were used. The most commonly used components were erythrocyte concentrate (EC), fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and thrombocyte concentrate (TC), respectively. Their monthly usages in the pre-pandemic period, the early pandemic period and the late pandemic period were 2067.1±147.2, 840±161.3 and 285.4±77.4; 1564.5±287.5, 576.7±146.2 and 261.5±52.6; 1803.5±122.1, 718.6±118.8 and 325.7±52.1; respectively. EC and FFP were used significantly less in the early and late pandemic periods than in the pre-pandemic period (p<0.001, p=0.001 and p<0.001, p<0.042, respectively). The TC use did not differ significantly. EC, FFP and TC destructions in the pre-pandemic period, the early pandemic period and the late pandemic period were 4 (1-10), 3.5 (0-17) and 3 (0-9); 3.5(0-8), 2.5(1-7) and 3(2-5); 1(0-7), 2(0-10) and 3(1-7); respectively. A significant decrease in EC destructions was observed during the late pandemic period (p=0.001).
Conclusion: Less blood was used both in the early and late periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. Blood dispositions decreased during the late pandemic period.

Keywords

Blood components, blood destruction, blood usage, COVID-19 pandemic

Supporting Institution

None

Project Number

Ethical approval was taken from the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of * Training and Research Hospital (Date:20.01.2022, approval number: 2/9).

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