For a study, it was determined that despite excellent treatments, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) caused joint deterioration, necessitating total joint arthroplasty to keep patients functional. A blood transfusion was expected to be given to between 16% and 70% of those having total joint arthroplasty of the hip or knee. Researchers identified the risk factors for blood transfusion after total joint arthroplasty in RA patients. Researchers investigated demographic and clinical risk variables related to getting a blood transfusion after total joint arthroplasty in RA patients.
A retrospective analysis (n=3270) was carried out utilizing de-identified patient health claims data from a commercially insured US data set (2007–2009). Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the data.
Females had a higher chance of receiving a blood transfusion (odds ratio [OR], 1.48; 95% CI; 1.16–1.87; P=0.001). Patients in the Midwest were less likely than those in the South to require a blood transfusion after total joint arthroplasty (OR, 0.56; 95% CI; 0.44–0.71). Patients who had total hip arthroplasty were more likely to receive a blood transfusion (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.14–1.70; p<0.001) than those who had total knee arthroplasty. Patients who had total shoulder arthroplasty were less likely to receive a blood transfusion (OR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.05–0.38; P<0.001). Patients with a history of anemia were more likely than those without this diagnosis to have a blood transfusion (OR, 3.30; 95% CI, 2.62–4.14; P<0.001). Blood transfusions were shown to be associated with risk variables in RA patients who had total joint arthroplasty.
Reference:journals.lww.com/jclinrheum/Abstract/2018/12000/Risk_Factors_for_Transfusions_Following_Total.2.aspx
