Preoperative Anaemia in South African non-cardiac surgery patients

Purpose: Reports of preoperative anaemia from African non-cardiac surgery settings are rare. This might have implications with regard to the perioperative management of non-cardiac surgery patients in these settings. We sought to report the prevalence, associated characteristics, and impact of preoperative anaemia on major postoperative complications in South African non-cardiac surgery patients. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of data (preoperative haemoglobin and red cell morphology; preoperative clinical characteristics; and major postoperative complications) from 194 adults who underwent elective non-cardiac surgery at a tertiary South African hospital. Relevant statistical analyses were performed to determine the prevalence, associated characteristics, and impact of preoperative anaemia on major postoperative complications. Results: The prevalence of preoperative anaemia was 42.3%. HIV was associated with a higher risk of preoperative anaemia (p=0.024). A non-communicable disease indication for surgery was associated with a lower risk of preoperative anaemia (p=0.009). A crude association between preoperative anaemia and increased major postoperative complications was observed (p=0.003). Conclusion: Preoperative anaemia is prevalent in our surgical population. HIV and a non-communicable disease indication for surgery are associated with preoperative anaemia. The risk of major postoperative complications appears higher in patients with preoperative anaemia.