Archives of internal medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Diagnostic blood loss from phlebotomy and hospital-acquired anemia during acute myocardial infarction.
Hospital-acquired anemia (HAA) during acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with higher mortality and worse health status and often develops in the absence of recognized bleeding. The extent to which diagnostic phlebotomy, a modifiable process of care, contributes to HAA is unknown. ⋯ Blood loss from greater use of phlebotomy is independently associated with the development of HAA. These findings suggest that HAA may be preventable by implementing strategies to limit blood loss from laboratory testing.