Preoperative iron treatment in anaemic patients undergoing elective total hip or knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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#anemia #arthroplasty-replacement-knee #blood-transfusion #humans #iron

Preoperative iron treatment in anaemic patients undergoing elective total hip or knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Scrimshire et al., 2020 | BMJ Open | Meta Analysis

Citation

Scrimshire Ashley B, Booth Alison, ... McDaid Catriona. Preoperative iron treatment in anaemic patients undergoing elective total hip or knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2020-Oct-31;10(10):e036592. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-036592

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Preoperative anaemia is associated with increased risks of postoperative complications, blood transfusion and mortality. This meta-analysis aims to review the best available evidence on the clinical effectiveness of preoperative iron in anaemic patients undergoing elective total hip (THR) or total knee replacement (TKR). DESIGN: Electronic databases and handsearching were used to identify randomised and non-randomised studies of interventions (NRSI) reporting perioperative blood transfusion rates for anaemic participants receiving iron before elective THR or TKR. Searches of CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed and other databases were conducted on 17 April 2019 and updated on 15 July 2020. Two investigators independently reviewed studies for eligibility and evaluated risk of bias using the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and a modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale for NRSIs. Data extraction was performed by ABS and checked by AB. Meta-analysis used the Mantel-Haenszel method and random-effects models. RESULTS: 807 records were identified: 12 studies met the inclusion criteria, of which 10 were eligible for meta-analyses (one RCT and nine NRSIs). Five of the NRSIs were of high-quality while there were some concerns of bias in the RCT. Meta-analysis of 10 studies (n=2178 participants) showed a 39% reduction in risk of receiving a perioperative blood transfusion with iron compared with no iron (risk ratio 0.61, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.73, p<0.001, I2=0%). There was a significant reduction in the number of red blood cell units transfused with iron compared with no iron (mean difference -0.37units, 95% CI -0.47 to -0.27, p<0.001, I2=40%); six studies (n=1496). Length of stay was significantly reduced with iron, by an average of 2.08 days (95% CI -2.64 to -1.51, p<0.001, I2=40%); five studies (n=1140). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative iron in anaemic, elective THR or TKR patients, significantly reduces the number of patients and number of units transfused and length of stay. However, high-quality, randomised trials are lacking. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42019129035.

Key Findings

807 records were identified: 12 studies met the inclusion criteria, of which 10 were eligible for meta-analyses (one RCT and nine NRSIs). Five of the NRSIs were of high-quality while there were some concerns of bias in the RCT. Meta-analysis of 10 studies (n=2178 participants) showed a 39% reduction in risk of receiving a perioperative blood transfusion with iron compared with no iron (risk ratio 0.61, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.73, p<0.001, I2=0%). There was a significant reduction in the number of red b

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 2178
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Anemia
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee
  • Blood Transfusion
  • Humans
  • Iron
  • Preoperative Care

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: iron

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09