Advances in the understanding and management of hospital-acquired anemia

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Hospital-acquired anemia (HAA) is a common complication associated with adverse outcomes, including increased transfusion requirements and prolonged hospital length of stay. The precise etiology of HAA remains elusive, and preventive or therapeutic strategies are inconsistently applied or lacking altogether. This review summarizes current evidence on the incidence, underlying mechanism, clinical consequences, and available interventions for HAA. RECENT FINDINGS: The causes of HAA are multifactorial involving procedural or diagnostic blood loss, impaired erythropoiesis, coagulation abnormalities, nutritional deficiencies, and hemolysis. Measures such as small volume tubes and closed blood collection devices have proven safe and effective for reducing the volume of drawn blood. Recent studies suggest that the incidence of HAA can be diminished by implementing systematic, patient-centered approaches. SUMMARY: HAA remains prevalent despite long-standing recognition of its clinical consequences. Although awareness has continuously increased, treatment and prevention strategies are still not widely established.