Effect of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on blood product usage at the University of Pecs

Introduction: The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on patient care is pronounced also in Hungary. Blood supply was hindered by the reduction of public blood donation events, the reduced willingness to donate, and the difficult predictability of blood product demand as a result of the epidemiological regulations. The wider application of Patient Blood Management guidelines in the medical practice will promote optimal blood product utilization by avoiding transfusions where possible. Objective and method: The aim of our study was to assess the changes in the usage of blood products in the first five months of 2020 at the Clinical Center of the University of Pecs, Janus Pannonius Clinical Building. Results: In the period following the epidemiological measures, we found reduction in the number of hospitalized patients (34.08%), in the number of patients requiring transfusion (39.69%) and in the number of red blood cell products used (46.41%). The number of transfused red blood cell concentrates per patient was also significantly reduced (from 2.61 to 1.97) in this period. The number of transfused fresh frozen plasma units and platelet concentrates also decreased by approximately 30%. Conclusion: After the implementation of the strict restrictions, despite the difficulties, it was possible to provide patients with sufficient blood products. Due to the efforts of both the Regional Blood Transfusion Center of Pecs of the Hungarian National Blood Transfusion Service and of the clinicians, a new balance was established between the demand and the supply of blood products, which provided adequate care for the necessary transfusions.