An Analysis of Blood Usage and Blood Wastage in Korea Hospitals in 2008 / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: Investigating the blood usage and blood wastage in Korea hospitals national wide, and including all types of medical institutes, has not been sufficient with the only study having been carried out by the KCDC thorough an Academic Research Contract in 2007. Yet that study was limited due to lack of participation from hospitals. Our study tried to establish a fundamental database for blood transfusion management by investigating the current status of blood products usage, under the KCDC's supervision, to improve participation from medical institutes. METHODS: From January to December in 2008, the Blood Bank, Red Cross of the Republic of Korea looked into the blood product supply of all the medical institutes and we conducted a national survey using questionnaires distributed via the local public health centers on the blood use, blood waste, the reasons for waste and the inventory of the remaining blood. The supply, as compared to the actual use of blood products in the same period, was analyzed by the Korean Red Cross. RESULTS: The total amount of blood products distributed by the Korean Red Cross to medical institutes in 2008 increased by 13.8% for platelets, 11.5% for RBC products, 8.4% for apheresis products and 2% for FFPs, as compared with that of 2006. A total of 2,500 institutions participated in the questionnaire and 60.7% (1,517 out of 2,500 institutes) of the institutes sent feed-back. The total amount of blood use was 3,483,636 units and 52% of the consumption was focused in metropolitan areas like Seoul, Geong-Ki and Busan. The total wastage rate for blood was 1.2% and it was 4.8% for institutes with admitting capacities of 100 beds or less, with expiration of the storage date being the main reason for wastage, while the wastage rate was 1.1% for general hospitals with admitting capacities of 500 beds or more, with an improving patient status or death being the main reason. CONCLUSION: The results of this study were similar to those of 2007, but the participation rate from medical institutes was much increased. Establishment of an investigational system for the use of blood products in medical institutes on a national level is needed to secure data for dealing with the increased projected demand of blood/blood products in the future.

Analysis of Blood Use at Dankook University Hospital according to International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 / 대한혈액학회지

BACKGROUND: A few recent studies have been conducted to analyzing the blood usage with regard to diagnosis of Korean recipients. We performed a study to analyze the usage of blood components. METHODS: Transfused components such as packed red blood cells (RBC), whole blood (WB), fresh frozen plasma (FFP), and platelet components (PLT) were estimated by the principal diagnoses of the patients, who were discharged from February 1998 to January 1999, according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10. RESULTS: Eleven percentage (2,227/20,650) of inpatients were transfused. The transfusion rate of hospitalized patients for RBCs, WBs, FFPs, and PLTs was 10.1%, 0.4%, 4.0% and 16.2 %, respectively. There was a difference in the sex ratio (1.6 male/female) in all blood components transfused. Of all investigated blood components (22,523 units), 10,729 units (47.6%) of RBCs, 240 units (1.1%) of WBs, 5,355 units (23.8%) of FFPs, and 6,199 units (27.5%) of PLTs were transfused. The hospitalized patients who received 1 unit of RBCs was 12.9%, and 2 units were most frequent transfused units (25.6%). Seventy-four percent of all 22,523 units were used in four diagnostic categories of highest blood usage; injury and poisoning (29.2%), nonhematologic neoplasms (16.3%), digestive system disease (16.1%) and circulatory system disease (12.5%). CONCLUSION: We performed usage analysis of blood components with regard to diagnosis, comparing the previous studies in other hospitals. This study could provide baseline transfusion information in relation to diagnosis, and help improve the quality control of blood utilization and transfusion practice.

Survey of Blood and Blood Component Utilization at Eight University Hospitals in Korea (1999) / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: Blood utilization review in medical facilities is necessary for predicting blood demand and maintaining an efficient blood program. We investigated the use of blood components and discard rate of blood components in eight university hospitals in Korea. METHODS: Blood component utilization including autologous blood collection in eight university hospitals on 1999 was analyzed with the co-work of its department of laboratory medicine. RESULTS: 700,686 blood component units were used at eight university hospitals investigated. Among a total of 601,262 units analyzed, the department of internal medicine used 303,843(50.5%) units and ranked first among clinical department for blood use, followed by general surgery 91,450 units, thoracic surgery 45,038 units. The cumulative number of autologous blood collected until 1999 was 6,232 units. Seven hospitals experienced rejection of reimbursement for health insurance payments and the rejection rate ranged from one to 28%. CONCLUSIONS: This survey provides information on blood component usage in eight Korean university hospitals. A successive nationwide survey on blood utilization like this study is required for estimation of blood demand.

Utilization of Blood Components for Transfusion by Hospitals in Korea: 1998-99 / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: Identification of blood use characteristics in medical facilities is essential for predicting blood demand and maintaining an efficient blood programme. We investigated the use of blood components and discard rate of blood in hospitals. METHOD: Blood component utilization of hospitals in 1998 and 1999 was analyzed by mail survey and co-work with eight university hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 1,510,862 blood component units in 1998 and 1,646,346 units in 1999 meaning an increase of 8.97 % percent were used by 59 hospitals investigated. Use of irradiated blood and single-donor platelets increased. Blood discard rate was less than five percent in most hospitals and many hospitals experienced improper cut in health insurance reimbursement. CONCLUSION: Use of blood components in hospitals is increasing and national guideline for transfusion is needed. A successive investigation on National wide blood utilization like this study is required for estimation of blood demand.

A Survey of Blood Component Use in Relation to International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: There are few recent studies on transfusion practice and blood use with regard to diagnoses of Korean recipients. We conducted a survey of blood component use in Yonsei University Medical Center in Seoul, Korea. METHODS: A survey was carried out on blood component transfusion from January 2000 to June 2000. Transfused components were listed by broad diagnostic categories formed from the principal diagnoses of the recipients according to the ICD-10. RESULTS: Of all investigated components (67,433 units), 18,623 units of RBCs (27.6%), 10,203 units of FFP (15.1%), 38,547 units of platelets (57.2%), and 60 units of whole blood (0.1%) were transfused. The transfusion rate in relation to sex was 1.7:1 and the majority of all blood units were transfused to patients aged <65 yrs (85.9%). The rate of blood component transfusion was the highest in the department of internal medicine (47,451 units, 70.4%). Of 18,623 RBCs units and 10,203 FFP units, 70.8% and 74.5% were transfused to patients in four diagnostic categories; neoplasms, digestive system diseases, circulatory system diseases, and leukemia or lymphoma. Of 38,547 platelets units, 87.8% were used in patients with neoplasms, leukemia or lymphoma, digestive system diseases and diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs. CONCLUSIONS: This survey provides information on the blood component usage in tertiary-care teaching hospital in Seoul, Korea. It demonstrates the concentration of today's blood utilization among a few diagnostic categories. This information is relevant for quality management of transfusion practice, cost analyses and for planning local and regional blood donation programs.