No Overall QOL Benefit With Liberal RBC Transfusion Strategy in MI Patients With Anemia

A secondary analysis of the Myocardial Ischemia and Transfusion (MINT) trial suggests that maintaining higher hemoglobin levels may not offer significant quality of life (QOL) benefits for patients with myocardial infarction and anemia. The findings were published June 3 in JAMA Internal Medicine. 

The analysis evaluated 30-day QOL outcomes among 2,844 patients randomized to either a liberal red blood cell (RBC) transfusion strategy (hemoglobin <10 g/dL, 1,271 patients) or a restrictive strategy (hemoglobin 7–8 g/dL, 1,254 patients). A total of 2,525 participants had QOL data available, while 319 (11.2%) died before the 30-day follow-up.

Researchers found no statistically significant differences between the two groups across any domain of the EQ-5D-5L instrument, a standardized measure of health-related QOL. Adjusted regression analyses also confirmed the lack of association between transfusion strategy and QOL measures. According to the authors, the findings suggest that higher hemoglobin levels maintained through RBC transfusion may not improve QOL overall in this patient population.

The findings expand upon data from the MINT trial, which found that – although not statistically significant – the frequency of mortality or recurrent MI was 2.4% lower among MI patients with anemia when a liberal approach was used.