The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of transfusions, including red blood cells (RBC), platelets, and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) during and after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in the Netherlands. Furthermore, the authors aimed to identify the impact of sex on blood product transfusion.

A retrospective multicenter cohort study. Data were collected from January 2013 to December 2021 from the Netherlands Heart Registration (NHR) database.

The NHR receives its data from 16 heart centers in the Netherlands.

Patients older than 18 years who underwent CABG in the Netherlands.

Coronary artery bypass grafting with extracorporeal circulation or off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

The incidence of blood transfusion, defined as transfusions intraoperatively and during the length of the hospital admission after CABG. In addition, a differentiation was made according to the type of transfusion (packed RBC, platelets, and FFP).

In the overall cohort (N = 42,388), the number of patients who received a transfusion of any type was 27.0% (n = 11,428). Women received more often RBC transfusions compared with men (45.4% v 15.6%, respectively, p < 0.001). There was a significant difference between the 2 sexes regarding platelet transfusion (women 10.0% v men 11.1%, p = 0.005) but not in FFP transfusion. Female sex was independently associated with RBC transfusion, using the multivariate logistic regression analysis.

The incidence of any blood transfusion was 27.0%, and was higher in women than in men. The female sex was independently associated with receiving RBC during and after CABG.