Blood and Beyond has published a new infographic illustrating the economic and human impact of poor blood health and the benefits that the implementation of patient blood management (PBM) as a critical, evidence-based approach to addressing the global burden of poor blood health can bring to health systems, patients, and society as a whole.
Anaemia alone affects around 2 billion people worldwide, including 28 million in the European Union, while a further 1 billion people are at risk due to iron deficiency, even in the absence of anaemia. But the data shows that poor blood health is not only a major clinical issue but also an economic one, contributing to worse patient outcomes, longer hospital stays, and increased healthcare expenditure, among others.
The infographic draws attention to inefficiencies in current practice, particularly the overuse of blood transfusions. Across 23 European countries, around 12.6 million units of red blood cells were transfused in 2023, with associated costs estimated at approximately €7.56 billion annually. These figures do not account for additional costs linked to complications, highlighting the significant financial burden on healthcare systems.
Importantly, the presented evidence shows that these inefficiencies are largely preventable. PBM programmes have demonstrated the ability to reduce transfusion rates, complications, and mortality, while generating substantial cost savings in the healthcare system. The infographic references studies from Western Australia, Germany and France.
Blood and Beyond calls on EU institutions, Member States, and international organisations to prioritise the implementation of PBM as both an ethical and economic imperative. With the ongoing rollout of the Substances of Human Origin (SoHO) Regulation, there is a timely opportunity to integrate PBM into national health systems and strengthen the role of blood health within broader healthcare policy.
