Transfusion of blood products and clinical outcomes for dengue fever patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to analyse the impacts of transfusing ‘non packed red blood cell’ blood products on patients with dengue and evaluate the effectiveness in reducing hospital stay, bleeding, mortality, and intensive care unit requirements. Methods Four databases were searched for relevant articles. Inclusion criteria were prospective or retrospective randomised or non-randomised studies which investigated the impacts of transfusion of blood products in patients with dengue. Results Nine studies were included in the final meta-analysis. Transfusion of blood products was associated with significantly higher mortality (9 studies, OR: 3.59, 95% CI: 1.07–15.98, I2 = 0%, p=0.04) and significantly longer length of hospital stay (6 studies, 0.56 days, 95% CI: 0.03–1.08, I2 = 95%, p=0.04). There was no significant difference in the incidence of clinical bleeding (7 studies, OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 0.77–1.65, I2 = 39%, p=0.54) or intensive care unit requirement (3 studies, OR: 1.59, 95% CI: 0.40–6.39, I2 = 0%, p=0.51). Conclusions Transfusing blood products for patients with dengue showed no benefit and may even be harmful.