Higher versus lower hemoglobin cutoffs for red blood cell transfusions
Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis of Red Blood Cell Transfusion Trials Comparing Liberal versus Restrictive Thresholds
['FUNDING_R01'] · RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES · NIH-11164787
This project compares outcomes when people receive blood transfusions at higher versus lower hemoglobin levels, with special focus on patients who have heart disease.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11164787 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
We will gather the original, patient-level data from many past randomized trials that assigned people to receive transfusions at higher or lower hemoglobin cutoffs. The team will update literature searches, contact trial investigators for their datasets, and combine and harmonize the data for analysis. By pooling individual patient data we can examine outcomes like death, heart complications, and bleeding within important subgroups such as patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease. This work uses existing trial data rather than enrolling new patients in a treatment program.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People hospitalized with anemia who have heart disease, recent heart attack, cardiac surgery, or cancer-related anemia are the most relevant group for these findings.
Not a fit: People who never need transfusions, or whose care is chronic outpatient anemia management (and possibly children if only adult trials are included), are unlikely to see direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could help tailor transfusion hemoglobin cutoffs to improve safety for patients, especially those with heart disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous trial-level meta-analyses generally found no large mortality difference between restrictive (7–8 g/dL) and liberal (9–10 g/dL) transfusion strategies, but pooling individual patient data is a more powerful and novel way to study specific subgroups.
Where this research is happening
Newark, UNITED STATES
- RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES — Newark, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: CARSON, JEFFREY LEE — RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES
- Study coordinator: CARSON, JEFFREY LEE
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Cancers