Conclusions
In this large cohort of surgical intensive care patients,
anemia was common and was associated with higher
morbidity and mortality. Higher hemoglobin concentrations
and blood transfusions were independently associated
with a lower risk of in-hospital death, especially in
patients aged from 66 to 80 years, in patients admitted to
the ICU after non-cardiovascular surgery, in patients
with severe sepsis, and in patients with higher SAPS II
and SOFA scores on admission to the ICU. Randomized
controlled studies are warranted to confirm the potential
benefit of blood transfusion in these subpopulations