Researchers evaluated 2,399 patients, of which 1,503 underwent knee replacement and 896 underwent hip surgery between Jan. 1, 2011 and Nov. 1, 2013. Patients were divided into BMI groups — normal less than 25 BMI; overweight 25-29.9 BMI; and obese more than 30 BMI.
Here are four insights:
1. The study found that the blood transfusion rate for normal BMI patients was 34.8 percent as compared to 21.9 percent for obese BMI patients for hip replacement.
2. The blood transfusion rate for normal BMI patients for knee replacement was 17.3 percent whereas the rate was 8.3 percent for obese BMI patients.
3. There was no correlation between the heavier patients and post-surgical complications such as blood clots and heart attacks.
4. The study was presented at the International Society for Technology in Arthroplasty between Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.
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