Abnormal Iron Status and Adverse Outcome After Elective Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective, Observational Multicenter Study

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence of preoperative abnormal iron status and its association with packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion, postoperative major complications, and new onset of clinically significant disability in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery.

DESIGN: A prospective, observational multicenter cohort study.

SETTING: Three cardiac surgical centers in the Netherlands between 2019 and 2021. Recruitment was on hold between March and May 2020 due to COVID-19.

PATIENTS: A total of 427 patients aged 60 years and older who underwent elective on-pump cardiac surgery.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary endpoint was a 30-day PRBC transfusion. Secondary endpoints were postoperative major complications within 30 days (eg, acute kidney injury, sepsis), and new onset of clinically significant disability within 120 days of surgery. Iron status was evaluated before surgery. Abnormal iron status was present in 45.2% of patients (n = 193), and most frequently the result of iron deficiency (27.4%, n = 117). An abnormal iron status was not associated with PRBC transfusion (adjusted relative risk [ARR] 1.2; 95% CI 0.9-1.8: p = 0.227) or new onset of clinically significant disability (ARR 2.0; 95% CI 0.9-4.6: p = 0.098). However, the risk of postoperative major complications was increased in patients with an abnormal iron status (ARR 1.7; 95% CI 1.1-2.5: p = 0.012).

CONCLUSIONS: An abnormal iron status before elective cardiac surgery was associated with an increased risk of postoperative major complications but not with PRBC transfusion or a new onset of clinically significant disability.