Objectives : To perform a literature review of blood transfusion cost in order to assess the blood cost over time in Spain. Data from other countries were also evaluated to compare them to the trends in Spanish costs.
Methods : A literature review has been carried out through two databases: PubMed from the US National Library of Medicine and DOYMA Publisher. Due to the limited data found in the databases, a manual search was performed. Time period covered was from 2002 to 2007. Twenty-six publications met the inclusion criteria: 6 articles from Spain, 6 from USA, 5 from United Kingdom; 2 from France; and 1 from Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, and Canada. Also, within the study, a literature review of red blood cell (RBC) cost was conducted for United Kingdom, USA and Canada.
Results : From the Spanish review it was estimated that the cost of RBCs has increased in 52.8% during the period 2001 to 2003. When considering the whole process associated with the transfusion, cost of RBC transfusion increased in 29.9% (2003–2006). In contrast with other countries, the RBC cost in the USA increased in 11.73% (200–2003). In the United Kingdom the increase was 34.11% (2002–2005), whereas in France it was 9.05% (2000–2003).
Conclusion : The use of a uniform currency (€) and 2007 constant prices made comparisons easier over time and between countries. The cost of RBCs in Spain, as in most of the examined countries, was estimated to be 150 € per RBC unit and 350 € per RBC transfusion.