Background and Aims Anaemia is common condition in geriatric patients. Tolerance and the symptoms of anaemia in those patients are very variable, depending on aging and comorbidities. Preoperative anaemia increases the risk of perioperative transfusion, which itself is associated with adverse effects. This study aimed to investigate risk of alogeneic blood transfusion (ABT) and length of hospital stay (LOS) in elderly hip fracture patients with pre-existing anaemia requiering surgery.

Methods Ederly patients (age ≥ 65 years) undergoing surgery for hip fracture between February 2020 and December 2021 were retrospectively evaluated. The World Health Organization (WHO) definition of anaemia was used. All patients received transfusion when their measured Hb was ≤ 80 g/l, or when any signs or symptoms indicative of anaemia were present. Patients‘ age, body mass index (BMI), presence of underlying diseases, fracture types and fixations, surgery time, anaesthesia methods were statistically analysed.

Results A total of 92 elderly hip fracture patients were included, average age 84±8 years, 80% female. According to the initial haemoglobin value, there were 46% patients anaemic. Total of 94% anemic females and 87% anemic males (p=0,52), and 38,5% nonanemic females and 9% nonanemic males, p<0,001 received ABT. The number of transfused packed red blood cells per patients were median 490 ml (IQR 250–730 ml) for females, and 500 ml (IQR 490–515 ml) for males,p=0,97. There was no statistically significant association between the presence of anaemia on admission and LOS.

Conclusions Pre-existing anemia presents significant factor affecting perioperative blood transfusion but not LOS in elderly hip fracture surgery patients.