Transfusion-related adverse reactions: An update from a district hospital in Ghana

Background: Transfusion therapy is indispensable for effective emergency medicine practice. However, in resource-poor settings transfusion therapy is suspected to be practiced in a manner that may be contributory to morbidity and mortality among blood recipients. Yet, there exists a wide information gap, with respect to incidence of transfusion-related adverse reactions secondary to inappropriate blood prescription. Objective: This study assessed incidence of transfusion-related adverse reactions in a district hospital in Ghana. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2020 to January 2021. Patients attending a district hospital in Kumasi, Ghana who were prescribed blood transfusion were recruited into the study after oral/written consent. Patients’ demographic data, blood components and units of blood requested as well as the ward of patients were recorded. Records of patient’s full blood count (FBC), body temperature, blood pressure and transfusion-related adverse reactions were extracted from their medical folders. Results: Out of 200 patients, 169 were transfused with whole blood while 31 patients received packed red cells. Majority (48%) of the patients were transfused with ≤1 unit whereas 10% received 3 units of blood. Anaemia (Hb = 6.13 g/dl) and leukocytosis (WBC = 13.83 x 103/µL) were observed in the haematological parameters in which the MCV and lymphocyte count differed significantly in males compared to females. The overall incidence of transfusion-related adverse reactions was 47.5%. Of the 169 patients who received whole blood, more than half (53.8%) experienced more than one of the transfusion-related adverse reactions that were monitored. Finally, patients within the ages of 19-29 years had the highest incidence of transfusion reaction (30.5%) and overall, the number of units administered was significantly associated with the incidence of transfusion reaction (p<0.011). Conclusion: Transfusion-related adverse reaction was common at the study setting. This could be attributed to inappropriate administration of blood and blood products. Strict adherence to World Health Organization recommendations on transfusion therapy needs to be encouraged and supervised in the study setting>< 0.011) Conclusion: Transfusion-related adverse reaction was common at the study setting. This could be attributed to inappropriate administration of blood and blood products. Strict adherence to World Health Organization recommendations on transfusion therapy needs to be encouraged and supervised in the study setting.