Hemoglobin Levels in Hospitalized Patients

AbstractBACKGROUND:A decrease in hemoglobin concentration [Hb] with no apparent cause is frequently observed in critically ill patients. Scarce information is available about this situation in general ward‐admitted patients (GWAP).OBJECTIVES:To describe [Hb] variation with no obvious cause in GWAP, and to estimate the prevalence and predictors of patients with [Hb] decreases ≥1.5 g/dL.DESIGN, SETTING AND PATIENTS:Prospective, observational study in internal medicine GWAP, carried out at two teaching hospitals in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Patients with a history of, or admitted for diseases associated with decreases in [Hb], as well as those with length of stay less than three days, were excluded.MEASUREMENTS:Upon hospitalization, complete personal and clinical data were recorded. Furthermore, Katz index, APACHE II acute physiology score (APS) and Charlson score were calculated. [Hb] and hematocrit (HCT) were also assessed during hospitalization.RESULTS:A total of 338 patients were evaluated, 131 were included. A mean [Hb] decrease of 0.71 g/dL was observed between admission and discharge (P < 0.001; 95% CI, 0.47‐0.97). Forty‐five percent of the included patients had decreases in [Hb] ≥ 1.5 g/dL. This was associated with a higher APS, a higher [Hb] at admission, and a discharge diagnosis of infectious or gastrointestinal disease. No bleeding episodes were observed.CONCLUSIONS:An [Hb] decrease was frequently observed during GWAP hospitalization with no evident blood loss. Even though this decrease has multiple causes, the severity of the acute illness seems to play a major role. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2010;5:283–288. ？ 2010 Society of Hospital Medicine