Whole blood versus red cell concentrates for children with severe anaemia: a secondary analysis of the Transfusion and Treatment of African Children (TRACT) trial

<p><strong>Background:</strong> The TRACT trial established the timing of transfusion in children with uncomplicated anaemia (haemoglobin 4–6 g/dL) and the optimal volume (20 vs 30 mL/kg whole blood or 10 vs 15 mL/kg red cell concentrates) for transfusion in children admitted to ho...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: George, EC, Uyoga, S, M'baya, B, Kyeyune Byabazair, D, Kiguli, S, Olupot-Olupot, P, Opoka, R, Chagaluka, G, Alaroker, F, Williams, TN, Bates, I, Mbanya, D, Gibb, DM, Walker, AS, Maitland, K
Other Authors: TRACT Trial Study Group
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022
_version_ 1826307226192576512
author George, EC
Uyoga, S
M'baya, B
Kyeyune Byabazair, D
Kiguli, S
Olupot-Olupot, P
Opoka, R
Chagaluka, G
Alaroker, F
Williams, TN
Bates, I
Mbanya, D
Gibb, DM
Walker, AS
Maitland, K
author2 TRACT Trial Study Group
author_facet TRACT Trial Study Group
George, EC
Uyoga, S
M'baya, B
Kyeyune Byabazair, D
Kiguli, S
Olupot-Olupot, P
Opoka, R
Chagaluka, G
Alaroker, F
Williams, TN
Bates, I
Mbanya, D
Gibb, DM
Walker, AS
Maitland, K
author_sort George, EC
collection OXFORD
description <p><strong>Background:</strong> The TRACT trial established the timing of transfusion in children with uncomplicated anaemia (haemoglobin 4–6 g/dL) and the optimal volume (20 vs 30 mL/kg whole blood or 10 vs 15 mL/kg red cell concentrates) for transfusion in children admitted to hospital with severe anaemia (haemoglobin <6 g/dL) on day 28 mortality (primary endpoint). Because data on the safety of blood components are scarce, we conducted a secondary analysis to examine the safety and efficacy of different pack types (whole blood vs red cell concentrates) on clinical outcomes.</p> <p><strong>Methods:</strong> This study is a secondary analysis of the TRACT trial data restricted to those who received an immediate transfusion (using whole blood or red cell concentrates). TRACT was an open-label, multicentre, factorial, randomised trial conducted in three hospitals in Uganda (Soroti, Mbale, and Mulago) and one hospital in Malawi (Blantyre). The trial enrolled children aged between 2 months and 12 years admitted to hospital with severe anaemia (haemoglobin <6 g/dL). The pack type used (supplied by blood banks) was based only on availability at the time. The outcomes were haemoglobin recovery at 8 h and 180 days, requirement for retransfusion, length of hospital stay, changes in heart and respiratory rates until day 180, and the main clinical endpoints (mortality until day 28 and day 180, and readmission until day 180), measured using multivariate regression models.</p> <p><strong>Findings:</strong> Between Sept 17, 2014, and May 15, 2017, 3199 children with severe anaemia were enrolled into the TRACT trial. 3188 children were considered in our secondary analysis. The median age was 37 months (IQR 18–64). Whole blood was the first pack provided for 1632 (41%) of 3992 transfusions. Haemoglobin recovery at 8 h was significantly lower in those who received packed cells or settled cells than those who received whole blood, with a mean of 1·4 g/dL (95% CI –1·6 to –1·1) in children who received 30 mL/kg and –1·3 g/dL (–1·5 to –1·0) in those who received 20 mL/kg packed cells versus whole blood, and –1·5 g/dL (–1·7 to –1·3) in those who received 30 mL/kg and –1·0 g/dL (–1·2 to –0·9) in those who received 20 mL/kg settled cells versus whole blood (overall p<0·0001). Compared to whole blood, children who received blood as packed or settled cells in their first transfusion had higher odds of receiving a second transfusion (odds ratio 2·32 [95% CI 1·30 to 4·12] for packed cells and 2·97 [2·18 to 4·05] for settled cells; p<0·001) and longer hospital stays (hazard ratio 0·94 [95% CI 0·81 to 1·10] for packed cells and 0·86 [0·79 to 0·94] for settled cells; p=0·0024). There was no association between the type of blood supplied for the first transfusion and mortality at 28 days or 180 days, or readmission to hospital for any cause. 823 (26%) of 3188 children presented with severe tachycardia and 2077 (65%) with tachypnoea, but these complications resolved over time. No child developed features of confirmed cardiopulmonary overload.</p> <p><strong>Interpretation:</strong> Our study suggests that the use of packed or settled cells rather than whole blood leads to additional transfusions, increasing the use of a scarce resource in most of sub-Saharan Africa. These findings have substantial cost implications for blood transfusion and health services. Nevertheless, a clinical trial comparing whole blood transfusion with red cell concentrates might be needed to inform policy makers.</p>
first_indexed 2024-03-07T06:59:44Z
format Journal article
id oxford-uuid:ff52d20c-0cc6-4e62-90e0-d0e307a09a70
institution University of Oxford
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-07T06:59:44Z
publishDate 2022
publisher Elsevier
record_format dspace
spelling oxford-uuid:ff52d20c-0cc6-4e62-90e0-d0e307a09a702022-03-27T13:44:06ZWhole blood versus red cell concentrates for children with severe anaemia: a secondary analysis of the Transfusion and Treatment of African Children (TRACT) trialJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:ff52d20c-0cc6-4e62-90e0-d0e307a09a70EnglishSymplectic ElementsElsevier2022George, ECUyoga, SM'baya, BKyeyune Byabazair, DKiguli, SOlupot-Olupot, POpoka, RChagaluka, GAlaroker, FWilliams, TNBates, IMbanya, DGibb, DMWalker, ASMaitland, KTRACT Trial Study Group<p><strong>Background:</strong> The TRACT trial established the timing of transfusion in children with uncomplicated anaemia (haemoglobin 4–6 g/dL) and the optimal volume (20 vs 30 mL/kg whole blood or 10 vs 15 mL/kg red cell concentrates) for transfusion in children admitted to hospital with severe anaemia (haemoglobin <6 g/dL) on day 28 mortality (primary endpoint). Because data on the safety of blood components are scarce, we conducted a secondary analysis to examine the safety and efficacy of different pack types (whole blood vs red cell concentrates) on clinical outcomes.</p> <p><strong>Methods:</strong> This study is a secondary analysis of the TRACT trial data restricted to those who received an immediate transfusion (using whole blood or red cell concentrates). TRACT was an open-label, multicentre, factorial, randomised trial conducted in three hospitals in Uganda (Soroti, Mbale, and Mulago) and one hospital in Malawi (Blantyre). The trial enrolled children aged between 2 months and 12 years admitted to hospital with severe anaemia (haemoglobin <6 g/dL). The pack type used (supplied by blood banks) was based only on availability at the time. The outcomes were haemoglobin recovery at 8 h and 180 days, requirement for retransfusion, length of hospital stay, changes in heart and respiratory rates until day 180, and the main clinical endpoints (mortality until day 28 and day 180, and readmission until day 180), measured using multivariate regression models.</p> <p><strong>Findings:</strong> Between Sept 17, 2014, and May 15, 2017, 3199 children with severe anaemia were enrolled into the TRACT trial. 3188 children were considered in our secondary analysis. The median age was 37 months (IQR 18–64). Whole blood was the first pack provided for 1632 (41%) of 3992 transfusions. Haemoglobin recovery at 8 h was significantly lower in those who received packed cells or settled cells than those who received whole blood, with a mean of 1·4 g/dL (95% CI –1·6 to –1·1) in children who received 30 mL/kg and –1·3 g/dL (–1·5 to –1·0) in those who received 20 mL/kg packed cells versus whole blood, and –1·5 g/dL (–1·7 to –1·3) in those who received 30 mL/kg and –1·0 g/dL (–1·2 to –0·9) in those who received 20 mL/kg settled cells versus whole blood (overall p<0·0001). Compared to whole blood, children who received blood as packed or settled cells in their first transfusion had higher odds of receiving a second transfusion (odds ratio 2·32 [95% CI 1·30 to 4·12] for packed cells and 2·97 [2·18 to 4·05] for settled cells; p<0·001) and longer hospital stays (hazard ratio 0·94 [95% CI 0·81 to 1·10] for packed cells and 0·86 [0·79 to 0·94] for settled cells; p=0·0024). There was no association between the type of blood supplied for the first transfusion and mortality at 28 days or 180 days, or readmission to hospital for any cause. 823 (26%) of 3188 children presented with severe tachycardia and 2077 (65%) with tachypnoea, but these complications resolved over time. No child developed features of confirmed cardiopulmonary overload.</p> <p><strong>Interpretation:</strong> Our study suggests that the use of packed or settled cells rather than whole blood leads to additional transfusions, increasing the use of a scarce resource in most of sub-Saharan Africa. These findings have substantial cost implications for blood transfusion and health services. Nevertheless, a clinical trial comparing whole blood transfusion with red cell concentrates might be needed to inform policy makers.</p>
spellingShingle George, EC
Uyoga, S
M'baya, B
Kyeyune Byabazair, D
Kiguli, S
Olupot-Olupot, P
Opoka, R
Chagaluka, G
Alaroker, F
Williams, TN
Bates, I
Mbanya, D
Gibb, DM
Walker, AS
Maitland, K
Whole blood versus red cell concentrates for children with severe anaemia: a secondary analysis of the Transfusion and Treatment of African Children (TRACT) trial
title Whole blood versus red cell concentrates for children with severe anaemia: a secondary analysis of the Transfusion and Treatment of African Children (TRACT) trial
title_full Whole blood versus red cell concentrates for children with severe anaemia: a secondary analysis of the Transfusion and Treatment of African Children (TRACT) trial
title_fullStr Whole blood versus red cell concentrates for children with severe anaemia: a secondary analysis of the Transfusion and Treatment of African Children (TRACT) trial
title_full_unstemmed Whole blood versus red cell concentrates for children with severe anaemia: a secondary analysis of the Transfusion and Treatment of African Children (TRACT) trial
title_short Whole blood versus red cell concentrates for children with severe anaemia: a secondary analysis of the Transfusion and Treatment of African Children (TRACT) trial
title_sort whole blood versus red cell concentrates for children with severe anaemia a secondary analysis of the transfusion and treatment of african children tract trial
work_keys_str_mv AT georgeec wholebloodversusredcellconcentratesforchildrenwithsevereanaemiaasecondaryanalysisofthetransfusionandtreatmentofafricanchildrentracttrial
AT uyogas wholebloodversusredcellconcentratesforchildrenwithsevereanaemiaasecondaryanalysisofthetransfusionandtreatmentofafricanchildrentracttrial
AT mbayab wholebloodversusredcellconcentratesforchildrenwithsevereanaemiaasecondaryanalysisofthetransfusionandtreatmentofafricanchildrentracttrial
AT kyeyunebyabazaird wholebloodversusredcellconcentratesforchildrenwithsevereanaemiaasecondaryanalysisofthetransfusionandtreatmentofafricanchildrentracttrial
AT kigulis wholebloodversusredcellconcentratesforchildrenwithsevereanaemiaasecondaryanalysisofthetransfusionandtreatmentofafricanchildrentracttrial
AT olupotolupotp wholebloodversusredcellconcentratesforchildrenwithsevereanaemiaasecondaryanalysisofthetransfusionandtreatmentofafricanchildrentracttrial
AT opokar wholebloodversusredcellconcentratesforchildrenwithsevereanaemiaasecondaryanalysisofthetransfusionandtreatmentofafricanchildrentracttrial
AT chagalukag wholebloodversusredcellconcentratesforchildrenwithsevereanaemiaasecondaryanalysisofthetransfusionandtreatmentofafricanchildrentracttrial
AT alarokerf wholebloodversusredcellconcentratesforchildrenwithsevereanaemiaasecondaryanalysisofthetransfusionandtreatmentofafricanchildrentracttrial
AT williamstn wholebloodversusredcellconcentratesforchildrenwithsevereanaemiaasecondaryanalysisofthetransfusionandtreatmentofafricanchildrentracttrial
AT batesi wholebloodversusredcellconcentratesforchildrenwithsevereanaemiaasecondaryanalysisofthetransfusionandtreatmentofafricanchildrentracttrial
AT mbanyad wholebloodversusredcellconcentratesforchildrenwithsevereanaemiaasecondaryanalysisofthetransfusionandtreatmentofafricanchildrentracttrial
AT gibbdm wholebloodversusredcellconcentratesforchildrenwithsevereanaemiaasecondaryanalysisofthetransfusionandtreatmentofafricanchildrentracttrial
AT walkeras wholebloodversusredcellconcentratesforchildrenwithsevereanaemiaasecondaryanalysisofthetransfusionandtreatmentofafricanchildrentracttrial
AT maitlandk wholebloodversusredcellconcentratesforchildrenwithsevereanaemiaasecondaryanalysisofthetransfusionandtreatmentofafricanchildrentracttrial