Investigation into changes in blood transfusion indicators and returning blood products along with the cause of returning and cost calculation

Background and Objectives: Blood is a valuable source, and the wastage of blood products could impose severe impacts on healthcare. This study investigates the changes in blood transfusion indices and blood product transfusion from 2018 to 2019 in public hospitals affiliated to Kashan University of Medical Sciences. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out using a researcher-made checklist across five public hospitals in Kashan, Iran. The amount of cross-match/transfusion, transfusion index (TI), and T% (transfusion probability) indices were calculated and analyzed. Results: In 2018, we ordered a total of 19741 blood product units, among which 18,723 units (94.8%) were transfused. In addition, we ordered a total of 15,323 units of blood products in 2019, and 14,223 units (92.8%) were transfused. The CT ratio was 1.04 in 2018 and 1.06 in 2019, with a 2% increase. The transfused probability (T %) percentage in the studied public hospitals in 2018 was 38.04%, whereas the rate was 36.7% in 2019, with a 3.5% decline. In 2018, the TI in the studied hospitals was 0.96 and decreased to 0.85 (11%) in 2019. Moreover, the TI was higher than 0.5 in hospitals, except for Shahid Rajaei Hospital. Based on the results, the cost of blood products was 74459499405 Rials ($ 690526) in 2018 and 79073079143 Rials ($ 612115) in 2019, with a 6% increase. Conclusions: Blood order and transfusion enjoyed good conditions in public hospitals affiliated to Kashan University of Medical Sciences, though the blood order pattern was unfavorable in Shahid Rajaei Hospital.