In this prospective, multicentre, open, randomised, controlled clinical trial elderly
patients (≥ 70 years) undergoing intermediate- or high-risk non-cardiac surgery will be
randomised either to a liberal group (patients receive a RBC unit each time Hb falls ≤ 9 g/dl
(≤ 5.6mmol/l) with a target range for the post-transfusion Hb level of 9-10.5 g/dl (5.6-6.5
mmol/l)) or restrictive group (patients receive a single RBC unit each time Hb falls ≤ 7.5
g/dl (≤ 4.7 mmol/l) with a target range for the post-transfusion Hb level of 7.5-9 g/dl
(4.7-5.6 mmol/l). Primary efficacy endpoint: is a composite of death from any cause and
anaemia-associated, ischaemic events (defined as acute myocardial infarction, acute ischaemic
stroke, acute kidney injury stage III, acute mesenteric ischaemia, acute peripheral vascular
ischaemia) within 90 days after surgery.