Discussion
In this large cohort of surgical ICU patients, hemoglobin
concentrations were less than 9 g/dl on at least one occasion
in 57.6% of patients. Lower hemoglobin concentrations
were associated with higher morbidity and
mortality. In a multivariable analysis, 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 higher severity scores, and in patients with
severe sepsis.
In this study, we demonstrate that anemia is common
in surgical intensive care patients. The cause of anemia in