Nurse Bryan knows that the age group that uses the most units of blood and blood products is:
A. Premature infants.
B. Children ages 1-20 years.
C. Adults ages 21-64 years.
D. The elderly above age 65 years.
Correct Answer: D. The elderly above age 65 years.
People older than 65 years use 43 percent of donated blood. This number is expected to increase as the population ages. Approximately 20.9 million units of blood components, including approximately 13.8 million units of whole blood or red blood cells, were transfused in 2011 in the United States; this was a decrease of 11.6% from 2008, and most likely reflects the growing adoption of blood management processes.
Option A: In high-income countries, transfusion is most commonly used for supportive care in cardiovascular surgery, transplant surgery, massive trauma, and therapy for solid and hematological malignancies. In low- and middle-income countries it is used more often to manage pregnancy-related complications and severe childhood anemia.
Option B: In low-income countries, up to 54 % of blood transfusions are given to children under 5 years of age; whereas, in high-income countries, the most frequently transfused patient group is over 60 years of age, accounting for up to 75% of all transfusions.
Option C: An increase of 7.8 million blood donations from voluntary unpaid donors has been reported from 2013 to 2018. In total, 79 countries collect over 90% of their blood supply from voluntary unpaid blood donors; however, 56 countries collect more than 50% of their blood supply from family/replacement or paid donors.