Analysis in changes of blood usage across hospital services in Colombia (2019–2023): Analysis ofblood usage across hospital services in Colombia

Background: The use of blood and its derivatives for transfusionpurposes in different hospital services is an indicator of the managementand demand for resources in the healthcare system. It was evaluated to identify whether the use over 2019–2023 has changed and what factors, such as donation policies, new medical procedures or the COVID-19 pandemic, could have impacted in blood transfusion usage. Aims: Assess the variability in the use of blood components within the different hospital services between 2019 and 2023 in Colombia. Methods: A descriptive observational analysis was conducted using data from the Colombian National Health Institute to assess changesin the number of transfused blood units from 24 different medical services in Colombia from 2019 to 2023. Data was categorized into five conditions (Years) with dependent samples as the same hospital services were measured repeatedly over time (2019-2023). The Shapiro–Wilk test, Histogram and Q-Q graphic were used to identify the distribution of data. Following a numerical and visual analysis, it was determined that data did not follow a normal distribution; which in turn meant we needed to analyze data using Friedman test as our statistical analysis tool. Finally, a post-hoc statistical analysis was performed using Bonferroni-adjusted p values to compare the years 2019–2023 in pairs and identify statistically significant relationships. Results: A significant difference was found when comparing the years(2019 to 2023) (p = 0.004) Post-hoc analysis, showed significant differences between 2020 and 2021 (p = 0.005) and 2020-2023 (p = 0.003) Overall, transfused blood components increased by 8.3% from 2019 to 2023. However, 2020 saw a decline in transfusions with a total of 1,210,621 units of blood.In 2020, there was a decrease in both the demand and supply of blood. Despite this, the satisfaction rate for demand from 92.1% in 2019, to 84.4% in 2020. Thus we can confirm that in the services that have the greatest demand such as: adult ICU, emergency and internal medicine, there is a growing trend.Summary/Conclusions: There was a slight, statistically significant increase in the use of the transfused blood components between 2019 and 2023. This is even regardless of a decrease in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and scarce blood donors, as reported by the Pan American Health Organisation. The rescheduling of surgical procedures, probably affected transfusions. The decline in 2020 was corrected by an increase in transfusions
the following year, after the resolution of the sanitary crisis and the resumption of the postponed procedures.