Influence of anaemia and red blood cell transfusion on mortality in high cardiac risk patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery: a retrospective cohort study

High cardiac risk was associated with increased incidence of anaemia, transfusion, and mortality. Red blood cell transfusion is associated with reduced mortality only in high cardiac risk patients with nadir postoperative haemoglobin concentration <80 g litre−1. Transfusion, the main treatment for postoperative anaemia, does not appear to be associated with reduced postoperative mortality at higher nadir haemoglobin ranges.