Abstract: 　Objectives　To analyze the risk factors for transfusion in very low birth weight infants and to explore the strategies for prevention of anemia. Methods　Neonates with gestational age <37 weeks and birth weight <1500 g admitted from January 2015 to June 2016 were included. The neonates were divided into blood transfusion group and non-blood transfusion group. The general conditions and complications were compared, and the risk factors of blood transfusion and the related factors were analyzed. Results　One hundred fifty cases of very low birth weight infants were included, among whom 108 cases were from blood transfusion group and 42 cases were from non-blood transfusion group. Compared with the non-blood transfusion group, the gestational age and body weight of the blood transfusion group were smaller, the basic hemoglobin was lower, the parenteral nutrition time was longer, and the total volume of blood collection in hospital was higher, and these differences were all statistically significant (P all<0.05). The incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), acute respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in the blood transfusion group were higher than those in the non-blood transfusion group,  and they were all statistically different (P all <0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the volume of blood transfusion was higher when the gestational age and body weight were smaller, the longer parenteral nutrition was needed, and the total volume of blood taken from the hospital was higher (P all <0.05). Conclusions　The gestational age, body weight, parenteral nutrition time and the total volume of blood collection in very low birth weight infants have different effects on blood transfusion risk and transfusion volume. The incidences of BPD, RDS, and PDA in infants with blood transfusion are higher.