Frequency of adverse effects from RBC transfusion placed in context relative to the risks of other hazards
Risk is depicted on a logarithmic scale. Shaded bars represent the risk of the adverse event per RBC unit transfused, and unshaded bars represent the risk for fatality per person per year for various life events. Refer to the source document for additional details of these risk calculations. More recent data about flight safety are available at
https://www.bts.gov/content/us-air-carrier-safety-data; these suggest that the risk of death from airline crashes is lower than depicted here. Refer to UpToDate for discussions of factors that impact these transfusion-associated risks, and our approaches to evaluating their presence, reducing their frequency, and treating them when they occur.