Transfusion of red blood cells ≥35 days old: A narrative review of clinical outcomes.

This article provides a review of studies examining the impact of transfusing older red blood cells (RBCs) on patient outcomes. The findings suggest that there is no significant association between RBC age and increased mortality or multi-organ dysfunction. However, there is some evidence of a modest association between RBCs stored for 35 days or more and increased mortality in cardiovascular acute care patients. The article acknowledges that more research is needed to establish the safety of RBCs near expiration and highlights the heterogeneity of the literature on this topic. Overall, current evidence suggests that RBC storage limits of up to 42 days are generally safe, but further investigation is required. [Extracted from the article]