Donors in the COVID-19 era: How did donor characteristics change in Japan?

IF 1.8 4区医学 Q3 HEMATOLOGY

Vox Sanguinis Pub Date : 2025-04-01 Epub Date: 2025-02-03 DOI:10.1111/vox.13801

T Odajima, N H Tsuno, R Okubo, S Makino, T Miyagi, K Ikuta, K Muroi, S Kino

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background and objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruptions to the blood service in Japan. Stay-at-home policies in schools, organizations and companies made it challenging to access potential blood donors, leading to a substantial decline in blood donation rates. This study aimed to examine the profile of blood donors during the pandemic and compare it with that in the pre-pandemic period.

Materials and methods: Blood donors who contributed to the Japanese Red Cross Blood Services between April 2018 and March 2021 were evaluated based on age, gender, occupation, donation site, height, body weight (BW) and donation status (first-time [FT] or repeat). Factors influencing the return of FT donors who contributed before and during the pandemic were also explored.

Results: During the initial phase of the pandemic, a significant decrease in blood donations was observed, particularly in Tokyo. Despite intermittent drops, the required blood volume was ultimately collected. Donations by both female and male repeat donors increased, although the number of male repeat donors decreased, with only female repeat donors experiencing an absolute increase. Before the pandemic, younger age, 200-mL donation, higher body mass index and fixed donation sites were significantly associated with FT donor returns. During the pandemic, higher age (for males) and 400-mL donation (for females) emerged as significant factors. With changes in donor profiles during the pandemic, there was a noticeable shift in the characteristics of FT donors who returned for a subsequent donation within the following year, particularly in terms of age and blood donation volume.

Conclusion: Despite the challenges, the required blood volume was successfully collected, thanks to increased donations from repeat blood donors. Recruiting and retaining committed donors is essential for maintaining sustainable blood services, especially during crisis situations.

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新冠肺炎时代的捐赠者：日本的捐赠者特征发生了怎样的变化？

背景和目的：2019冠状病毒病大流行对日本的血液服务造成了严重干扰。学校、组织和公司的居家政策使得接触潜在献血者变得困难，导致献血率大幅下降。本研究旨在检查大流行期间献血者的概况，并将其与大流行前时期的情况进行比较。材料与方法：根据年龄、性别、职业、献血地点、身高、体重（BW）和献血状况（首次或重复）对2018年4月至2021年3月期间向日本红十字会血液服务中心献血的献血者进行评估。还探讨了影响在大流行之前和期间捐款的《金融时报》捐助者返回的因素。结果：在大流行的最初阶段，观察到献血量显著减少，特别是在东京。尽管间歇滴血，最终还是收集到了所需的血容量。女性和男性重复献血者的捐赠都增加了，尽管男性重复献血者的数量减少了，只有女性重复献血者的绝对数量增加了。大流行前，年龄较小、捐献200毫升、体重指数较高和捐献地点固定与FT捐献回赠显著相关。在大流行期间，较高的年龄（男性）和400毫升的捐献（女性）成为重要因素。随着大流行期间献血者概况的变化，在接下来的一年内再次献血的FT献血者的特征发生了明显变化，特别是在年龄和献血量方面。结论：尽管存在挑战，但由于重复献血者的献血量增加，所需的血量被成功收集。招募和留住承诺的献血者对于维持可持续的血液服务至关重要，特别是在危机局势期间。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Vox Sanguinis 医学-血液学

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

11.10%

发文量

156

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Vox Sanguinis reports on important, novel developments in transfusion medicine. Original papers, reviews and international fora are published on all aspects of blood transfusion and tissue transplantation, comprising five main sections: 1) Transfusion - Transmitted Disease and its Prevention: Identification and epidemiology of infectious agents transmissible by blood; Bacterial contamination of blood components; Donor recruitment and selection methods; Pathogen inactivation. 2) Blood Component Collection and Production: Blood collection methods and devices (including apheresis); Plasma fractionation techniques and plasma derivatives; Preparation of labile blood components; Inventory management; Hematopoietic progenitor cell collection and storage; Collection and storage of tissues; Quality management and good manufacturing practice; Automation and information technology. 3) Transfusion Medicine and New Therapies: Transfusion thresholds and audits; Haemovigilance; Clinical trials regarding appropriate haemotherapy; Non-infectious adverse affects of transfusion; Therapeutic apheresis; Support of transplant patients; Gene therapy and immunotherapy. 4) Immunohaematology and Immunogenetics: Autoimmunity in haematology; Alloimmunity of blood; Pre-transfusion testing; Immunodiagnostics; Immunobiology; Complement in immunohaematology; Blood typing reagents; Genetic markers of blood cells and serum proteins: polymorphisms and function; Genetic markers and disease; Parentage testing and forensic immunohaematology. 5) Cellular Therapy: Cell-based therapies; Stem cell sources; Stem cell processing and storage; Stem cell products; Stem cell plasticity; Regenerative medicine with cells; Cellular immunotherapy; Molecular therapy; Gene therapy.