Clinical current status and research progress on transfusion strategy of older patients

There has been an accumulating body of studies provided to reveal that blood transfusion is more frequently and liberally administered to older than younger patients. Older patients have a higher transfusion rate than the younger; even they are just suspected but not diagnosed of co-morbidities. It is still under controversial whether older patients should adopt liberal or restrictive transfusion strategy. This review seeks to find a proper blood transfusion strategy for older patients by summarizing the current situation and progress of relevant studies in recent years, and analyzing the risks and complication of blood transfusion for older patients in different clinical settings. Key words: Blood transfusion; Aged; Younger adult; Restrictive transfusion strategy; Liberal transfusion strategy