Characterization of blood donors and non-blood donors in Germany using an online survey.

Objectives of this study were to analyze characteristics influencing blood donation status, to identify anxieties and reasons for (non-)blood donation, and potential channels for future blood donation campaigns. A random population from Germany was interviewed using the online survey tool SoSci Survey. The access link to the questionnaire was distributed via snowball system and the Bavarian Red Cross. Statistical analysis was performed to identify factors influencing blood donation status. A total of 682 participants (27.3% blood donors) with a mean age of 33.4 and a standard deviation (SD) of 12.0 years were included into the analysis. Strongest factor associated with being blood donor was having a blood donor within family and friends (Odds ratio [OR]: 5.05 [95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 2.63; 9.70]; p≤0.001), whereas having anxiety related to blood donation was the strongest factor for being non-blood donor (OR: 0.11 [95% CI: 0.05; 0.21] p≤0.001). Other factors significantly influencing blood donor status were age, health-related quality of life, knowledge on blood donation, being an organ donor and having pre-conditions. Main anxieties avoiding blood donation were fear of physical consequences, and fear of the injection needle. Most frequently mentioned channels which should be used for blood donation campaigns were Instagram and free TV. Involving blood donors into campaigns to recruit new blood donors from their personal environment and to focus campaign content on physical benefits of blood donations might help to recruit new blood donors. In addition, running campaigns stronger on channels such as Instagram might increase their scope.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on blood supply and demand in the WHO African Region.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affected millions of people worldwide and caused disruptions at the global level including in healthcare provision. Countries of the WHO African region have put in place measures for the COVID-19 pandemic containment that may adversely affect blood system activities and subsequently reduce the supply and demand of blood and blood components. This study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on blood supply and demand in the WHO African Region and propose measures to address the challenges faced by countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey questionnaire was sent to all 47 countries in the WHO African Region to collect information on blood supply and demand for the first 5 months of 2019 and 2020, respectively, and on COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma therapy in September 2020. RESULTS: Thirty-seven countries provided responses. The total number of blood donations dropped in 32 countries while it increased in five countries. The proportion of blood drives also decreased in 21 countries and increased in nine countries. The blood requested and issued for transfusion decreased for blood demand and for blood issued for transfusion in 30 countries. Ten countries reported some activities of convalescent plasma. However, very few units of this product collected have been transfused to COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a reduction of blood related activities in the region, including the supply and demand. Countries preparedness plans for health emergencies need more emphasis to maintaining blood stock.

Assessment of blood supply and usage pre- and during COVID-19 pandemic: A lesson from non-voluntary donation.

BACKGROUND: Ensuring steady stream of safe blood is the ultimate goal of blood transfusion practice. The current COVID-19 pandemic has affected almost every part of life and economy. Consequently, this study sets off to assess the effect of the pandemic on blood supply and blood transfusion in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. METHODS: Data from the Donor Clinic and Blood Group Serology Unit of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital were retrospectively extracted to evaluate supply and use of blood before and during COVID-19 pandemic. RESULT: A total of 1638 donors were recorded within the study period. Age range 15-29 and 30-44 years constituted majority of the subjects (58.9% and 33.4%, respectively). The donor pool were male-dominated. Commercial donors (61.7%) and family replacement donors (30.6%) constituted majority of the donor pool. Most of the donor pool were students (37.1%), public servants (22.8%) and artisans (18.6%). A concomitant decrease of 26.1% and 18.9% were recorded in blood donation and request during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: Blood supply was not significantly affected in our study center as both requests and donations decreased. Consideration for improving family replacement donation was advised.

Management of blood supply and demand during the COVID-19 pandemic in King Abdullah Hospital, Bisha, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Maintaining blood supply is essential since blood transfusions are lifesaving in many conditions. The 2003 infectious outbreak of SARS-CoV had a negative impact on blood supply. This study aimed to measure donor attendance and blood demand in order to help find efficient ways of managing blood supply and demand during the COVID-19 pandemic and similar public emergencies in the future. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from donor attendance, mobile blood drives and blood inventory records were retrospectively obtained for the period between 1 September 2019 and 1 May 2020 to assess the impact of COVID-19 on donor attendance and the management of blood supply and demand in King Abdullah Hospital, Bisha, Saudi Arabia. Data were analysed using SPSSStatistics, version 25.0. Categorical variables were described using frequencies and percentages. RESULTS: After imported cases of COVID-19 were reported in Saudi Arabia, donor attendance and blood supply at blood bank-based collections showed a drop of 39.5%. On the other hand, blood demand during the same period was reduced by 21.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on donor attendance and blood supply and adversely affected blood transfusion services. Guidelines that prioritize blood transfusion should prepare at the beginning of emergencies similar to this pandemic. Close monitoring of blood needs and blood supply and appropriate response is essential for avoiding sudden blood shortage. An evidence-based emergency blood management plan and flexible regulatory policy should be ready to deal with any disaster and to respond quickly in the case of blood shortage.

What are the perspectives for blood donations and blood component transfusion worldwide? A systematic review of time series studies

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Analysis of the literature suggests that changes relating to blood donations and blood component transfusion are occurring due to the aging of the population. OBJECTIVE: To gain better understanding of the demand and supply of these inputs over time, and to identify the main associated demographic characteristics. DESIGN AND SETTING: Systematic review conducted on time series relating to blood donations and blood component transfusions worldwide. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was conducted based on articles that presented time series relating to blood donation or blood component transfusion. RESULTS: We found 1,814 articles. After the deletion process, only thirteen were read. Overall, these suggested that there is increasing demand for blood components and decreasing donation. The existence of seasonality regarding blood donation was pointed out. Men usually donated more blood and demanded more blood components than women. Approximately 50% of blood transfusions were performed in people aged ≥ 60 years. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis on articles that presented time series relating to blood donations and blood component transfusion showed that aging of the population was the main factor associated with the increasing demand for blood and the decreasing supply of blood.

Analysis of blood collection supply and clinical usage demand in Hangzhou / 中国输血杂志

Objective To compare and analyze the supply of blood collection and clinical blood demand in Hangzhou during 2011-2016,and to put forward some countermeasures and suggestions.Methods The related data of blood collection in blood center and the indexs of clinical blood demand in all hospitals in Hangzhou were collected during 2011-2016,and the growth rates of both of them were compared and analyzed.Results 1) The data of blood collection and supply was the lowest in 2012,and then increased year by year.The average annual growth of platelet collection and supply was 8.09％ and 8.47％,respectively,and the other indicators grew relatively gently.In 2016,the rate of blood donation reached 18.28 per thousand people.At the same period,the number of staff in institutions was basically stable.2) During 2011-2016,the blood demand of all hospitals in Hangzhoa maintained rapid growth.In Hangzhou,the number of hospitals increased by 10.65％ annually,and until 2016,there was an increase of 65.87％ over 2011.The average annual growth of the number of beds,the number of emergency patients and the number of inpatients increased by 10.21％,6.09％ and 11.40％ respectively.The growth rate of number of inpatients was higher than that of outpatient and emergency departments.Hospital employees remained at an average annual growth rate of nearly 10％.3) The clinical demand for blood increased significantly more higher than the growth of blood collection and supply.Conclusion Speed up the pace of the construction of blood supply,and keep pace with the construction of hospitals.Strengthening the publicity,health education and promotion models,in order to encourage more people,who are eligible for blood donation,to join the blood donation.And also strengthening personnel team building,improving overall work efficiency and level.

Long Term Prospects for the Blood Supply and Demand / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: There is a need to prepare an adequate blood supply because of the imbalance between the blood supply and demand and the advent of an aging society. This paper presents the basic data for the blood supply and demand through an estimation of the blood donation and blood usage over the next ten years. METHODS: Data analysis was carried out using time-series methods. The data for the monthly blood donation from the Korean Red Cross from 1992 to 2004 was used to estimate the blood donation, and data of the blood supply from the Korean Red Cross and hospitals from 2000 to 2004 for the estimation of the blood supply for transfusion. In order to overcome the limits of the time-series methods, one prospect excluding the data from the year 2004 and the other prospect including the data from the year 2004 were analyzed simultaneously. RESULTS: According to the analysis performed with data from the year 2004 excluded, blood donation rate is expected to decrease to 2.5% in 2015 and the total blood demand (1,435,903 units), which is composed of RBC and single donor platelet, is expected to exceed the total blood donation (1,408,244 donors) by 2015. According to the analysis performed with the data from the year 2004 included, the blood donation rate is expected to decrease to 1.3% in 2015 and the total blood demand (1,760,219 units) is expected to exceed the total blood donation (1,639,042 donors) in 2009. CONCLUSION: A shortage of blood supply is expected to occur during the next ten years. In order to eliminate this blood shortage, a national data management system for blood collection and usage will be needed. In addition, adequate donor resources as well as a monitoring system will be needed to improve the efficiency of blood usage.

Survey of Blood and Blood Components Usages at Ten University Hospitals in Korea, 1995 to 2004 / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: The management of blood program is difficult, because there is no comprehensive data collection system in place that gathers data about blood and blood components (blood) usage in Korea. To provide basic data for estimating future blood needs and thereby adjusting the blood program to those needs, data of blood usage in ten Korean university hospitals was analyzed. METHODS: The amount of blood used in Korea from 1995 to 2004 was estimated from the data of the Korean Red Cross Blood Centers (KRCBC) and from blood collection data of hospitals. Ten top ranking hospitals regarding blood usage were selected based on a previous report, and the data for blood usage in these hospitals were evaluated. RESULTS: About 20% of red blood cells (RBC) including whole blood > or =40% of platelets (PLT), > or =30% of plasma products (Plasma), and > or =70% of single donor apheresis platelets (SDP) transfused in Korea were used in ten University hospitals. The pattern of blood utilization in ten hospitals was different from that in total hospitals in Korea. The mean units of blood transfused per 1000 admitted patients in these ten hospitals increased steadily until 2000, but from 2001 the amount of blood transfused reached a plateau until 2004, although variations between hospitals is noticed, it seems to be stabilized. About 35% of RBC, 33% of Plasma and 27% of PLT were transfused for patients aged 60 years or more, and the transfusion rate for RBC was between 5% and 17% showing an increasing tendency proportional to patients age in two hospitals. CONCLUSION: This study provides baseline data for planning a blood program, and for a blood monitoring program a continuous and comprehensive data collection system for blood supply and blood demand needs to be established at a National level.

Survey of Blood and Blood Component Utilization at Eight University Hospitals in Korea (1999) / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: Blood utilization review in medical facilities is necessary for predicting blood demand and maintaining an efficient blood program. We investigated the use of blood components and discard rate of blood components in eight university hospitals in Korea. METHODS: Blood component utilization including autologous blood collection in eight university hospitals on 1999 was analyzed with the co-work of its department of laboratory medicine. RESULTS: 700,686 blood component units were used at eight university hospitals investigated. Among a total of 601,262 units analyzed, the department of internal medicine used 303,843(50.5%) units and ranked first among clinical department for blood use, followed by general surgery 91,450 units, thoracic surgery 45,038 units. The cumulative number of autologous blood collected until 1999 was 6,232 units. Seven hospitals experienced rejection of reimbursement for health insurance payments and the rejection rate ranged from one to 28%. CONCLUSIONS: This survey provides information on blood component usage in eight Korean university hospitals. A successive nationwide survey on blood utilization like this study is required for estimation of blood demand.

Utilization of Blood Components for Transfusion by Hospitals in Korea: 1998-99 / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: Identification of blood use characteristics in medical facilities is essential for predicting blood demand and maintaining an efficient blood programme. We investigated the use of blood components and discard rate of blood in hospitals. METHOD: Blood component utilization of hospitals in 1998 and 1999 was analyzed by mail survey and co-work with eight university hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 1,510,862 blood component units in 1998 and 1,646,346 units in 1999 meaning an increase of 8.97 % percent were used by 59 hospitals investigated. Use of irradiated blood and single-donor platelets increased. Blood discard rate was less than five percent in most hospitals and many hospitals experienced improper cut in health insurance reimbursement. CONCLUSION: Use of blood components in hospitals is increasing and national guideline for transfusion is needed. A successive investigation on National wide blood utilization like this study is required for estimation of blood demand.