Background and objectives: Survival rates in patients transfused in 1993 and 2000 were compared in relation to diagnoses and surgical interventions.
Materials and methods: Blood centre and hospital records of all patients transfused from March to May in Orebro County in 1993 (n = 932) and 2000 (n = 990), were matched with the national register of deaths.
Results: Relative risk of death within 1 year, adjusted for diagnoses, operations and other confounders in patients transfused in 2000 compared to 1993 was 0.78 (CI 0.66-0.91). Among those transfused 1993, 39% were alive after 7 years.
Conclusion: The improved survival among those transfused in 2000 could not be accounted for by differences in ages or case-mix.