Impact of postoperative intravenous iron therapy on postoperative infections in older patients with severe anaemia after hip fracture surgery

Lene T. Hansen*, Johannes Riis, Kristian H. Kragholm, Lis K. Larsen, Christian Cavallius, Marianne M. Mørch, Silas Z. Clemmensen, Maria L. Krogager, Dorte Melgaard*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)
40 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Anaemia is common following hip fracture in ortho-geriatric patients and is associated with postoperative infections.. This study investigated whether intravenous iron supplements reduced the rate of postoperative infections within 30 days postoperatively in older adults after hip fracture surgery.

METHODS: This observational study included 198 ortho-geriatric patients July 2018-May 2020. In May 2019 a local guideline was implemented and recommended II therapy on the 3 rd postoperative day if haemoglobin concentration was < 6.5 mmol/L after hip fracture surgery.

RESULTS: The patients were divided into four treatment groups: blood transfusion (n = 44), IV iron (n = 69), blood transfusion + IV iron (n = 35) and no treatment (n = 50). The number of patients who had an infection within 30 days was similar in the two time periods (38.8% before vs. 38.9% after systematic I.V. iron supplementation, P = 1.00) and no significant difference according to risk of infection was found between treatment groups.

CONCLUSION: This study documents no effect of intravenous iron supplements on postoperative infections in older adults after hip fracture surgery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered with the Danish Data Protection Authority (2008-58-0028) the 2 th of September 2019.

Original languageEnglish
Article number95
JournalBMC Geriatrics
Volume23
Issue number1
ISSN1471-2318
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Feb 2023

Bibliographical note

© 2023. The Author(s).

Keywords

  • Geriatric patients
  • Intravenous iron
  • Postoperative anaemia
  • Postoperative infections
  • Surgery
  • Humans
  • Postoperative Complications/drug therapy
  • Anemia/drug therapy
  • Aged
  • Iron
  • Hip Fractures/surgery

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