ABC - A Post Intensive Care Anaemia Management Trial

Inclusion criteria

• Patient who received level 3 ICU care at any time point during the current hospital admission (defined as advance respiratory support and/or at least two organ support).
• Patient considered ready for discharge from ICU by the caring clinical team.
• Hb less than or equal to 94g/L when ready for ICU discharge or during the first seven days following the decision by the treating clinician that the patient is ready for ICU discharge.
• 16years of age or older
• Patient expected to remain in study hospital until hospital discharge.
• Consent provided (by participant or in accordance with appropriate mental capacity legislation for the site).

Exclusion criteria

• Contraindication or objection to RBC transfusion
• Active bleeding when screened
• Primary neurological ICU admission diagnosis
• Patients discharged from the ICU following cardiac surgery
• Currently receiving or planned to receive end-of-life care
• Not expected by clinical team to survive to hospital discharge
• Patient with a proven chronic haematological disease that requires regular RBC transfusion to treat anaemia
• Patient with dialysis-dependent chronic renal failure prior to ICU admission
• Patient receiving regular erythropoietin (or any erythropoiesis stimulating agent) treatment for anaemia prior to ICU admission
• Unable to obtain consent (frompatietn or in accordance with appropriate mental capacity legislation for the site)
• Readmission to ICU during current hospitalisation episode and not enrolled following previous ICU admissions
• Patient recovering following liver transplantation, kidney transplantation, or combined kidney/pancreas transplantation
• Patient recovering from variceal bleeding due to chronic liver disease
• Prisoners
• Patient due for imminent hospital discharge within the next 24 hours