Blood Supply and Demand in Korea:What is in Store for the Future?

ABSTRACT

Purpose@#Presently, Korea is facing new challenges associated with an imbalance in blood supply and demand. The purpose ofthis study was to examine trends in blood supply and demand in Korea over the past 10 years through 2018 and to propose whatto prepare in the future. @*Materials and Methods@#Age demographics in Korea were analyzed using data from the Statistics Korea. Blood donation andblood supply data were analyzed using Blood Services Statistics 2018 by the Korean Red Cross. Blood transfusion data from hospitalsin 2018 were obtained from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. @*Results@#In 2018, 2883270 whole blood and apheresis units were collected in Korea. The Korean Red Cross supplied 4277762 bloodcomponents to 2491 hospitals. The overall blood donation rate was 5.6%, and the most frequent donors were young male donors.Leukoreduced red blood cells (RBCs) constituted 25% of all RBCs used, and 40% of all platelets were supplied by single-donorplatelets. The self-sufficiency rate of domestic plasma with which to produce plasma-derived medicinal products was 68.7% in2018. Blood use was the most frequent among patients aged 70–79 years. @*Conclusion@#Blood management in Korea is changing rapidly due to a low birth rate, rapid aging, and an increase in severely illpatients who require most of the blood supply. Therefore, future plans to promote donation at a national level and optimal use ofblood in hospitals is necessary.