Preoperative IV Iron Treatment Better for Iron Deficiency Anemia
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 7, 2024 -- For patients with preoperative iron deficiency anemia (IDA), intravenous (IV) iron treatment is associated with a significant reduction in 30-day postoperative mortality and morbidity compared with red blood cell (RBC) transfusion, according to research published online July 22 in Anesthesia & Analgesia.
Una E. Choi, from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, and colleagues conducted a propensity score-matched retrospective cohort analysis from 2003 to 2023 to examine trends in preoperative IDA treatment among surgical patients diagnosed with IDA within three months preoperatively. A cohort of 77,179 patients with preoperative IDA who were treated with preoperative IV iron but not RBCs was compared to a cohort of 77,179 patients receiving preoperative RBCs but not IV iron.
The researchers found that preoperative IV iron was associated with a lower risk for postoperative mortality and a lower risk for postoperative composite morbidity compared with RBC transfusion (relative risks, 0.63 and 0.76, respectively). IV iron was associated with higher hemoglobin in the 30-day postoperative period (10.1 ± 1.8 versus 9.4 ± 1.7 g/dL) and a reduced incidence of postoperative RBC transfusion (relative risk, 0.30) compared with RBC transfusion.
"This change in practice represents a promising opportunity to continue to improve outcomes and reduce avoidable blood transfusions along with their associated costs," the authors write.
One author disclosed ties to Octapharma; another author disclosed ties to Haemonetics.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted August 2024
Read this next
2019 to 2020 Saw 17.9 Percent Decrease in Ophthalmic Procedures in Seniors
TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2025 -- There was a notable decrease in common ophthalmic procedures among Medicare beneficiaries during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a...
New Facial Plastic Surgery Survey Illustrates Impact of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
FRIDAY, Feb. 7, 2025 -- Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) medications for weight loss are significantly transforming the field of facial plastic surgery...
Opportunistic Salpingectomy During Any Abdominal Surgery Reduces Ovarian Cancer Risk
FRIDAY, Feb. 7, 2025 -- Opportunistic salpingectomy (OS) during any suitable abdominal surgery is effective for reducing the incidence of ovarian cancer and could reduce health...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.