A Study of Iron Status Among Regular Voluntary Blood Donors at a Tertiary Care Centre in Western Part of Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Introduction Regular blood donation can lead to pre-clinical iron deficiency as well as iron deficiency anemia. Estimation of haemoglobin and hematocrit levels alone in voluntary blood donors may not be adequate. Study was done using a combination of hematological and iron status parameters (serum ferritin).Methodology: A cross sectional study consisted of 500 blood donors who donated for the first time (control group n=100) and regular blood donors (test group n=400). Pre-donation haemoglobin assessment was done by hemo-cue method. Venous whole blood was drawn before donation into an EDTA anti-coagulated tube for CBC and plain tube for estimation of serumferritin by ELISA method. The regular blood donors were divided into four groups, according to the total number of previous donations they had given. Group I (donated 4-5 times), Group II (donated 6-10 times). Group III (donated 11-20 times) and group IV (donated >20 times).Results: First time donors (n=100) had higher mean serum ferritin levels than those in repeat donors (n=400). 9.4% (47) of blood donors had depleted iron stores (serum ferritin 15-20 μg/L) and 27% (135) of donors had deficient iron stores (serum ferritin < 15 μg/L). Serum ferritin levels were markedly reduced in donors who donated >20 times and within 3-5 months of last donation. Prevalence of iron deficiency significantly increased with regular blood donation.Conclusion This study shows a significant correlation between the frequency of donations and decreased iron stores (ferritin). It is concluded that a high prevalence of iron deficiency is present among regular blood donors. Iron supplementation needs to be considered in regular, repeat voluntary blood donors with iron deficiency.