Population
A subgroup of surgical non-trauma patients enrolled in the Age of Blood Evaluation (ABLE) trial (n= 320).
Intervention
Fresh red blood cell (RBC) units (stored less than or equal to 7 days), (n= 172).
Comparison
Standard issue RBC (n= 148).
Outcome
The primary outcome was 90-day all-cause mortality. Baseline data were similar. The length of storage was 7.2 ± 6.4 in fresh and 20.6 ± 8.4 days in standard group. The 90-day mortality was 29.7% and 28.4%, respectively (absolute risk difference: 0.01; 95% CI: -0.09 to 0.11). No significant differences were observed for all secondary outcomes, including 6-month mortality, even after adjustment for age, country, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation score.