Henrik Ullum1, Klaus Rostgaard2, Mads Kamper-Jørgensen2,3, Marie Reilly4, Mads Melbye2, Olof Nyrén4, Rut Norda5, Gustaf Edgren4,6, Henrik Hjalgrim2. 1. Department of Clinical Immunology, Center of Clinical Investigation, Copenhagen University Hospital. 2. Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut. 3. Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. 4. Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 5. Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. 6. Hematology Centre, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that blood donors experience lower mortality than the general population. While this may suggest a beneficial effect of blood donation, it may also reflect the selection of healthy persons into the donor population. To overcome this bias, we investigated the relation between blood donation frequency and mortality within a large cohort of blood donors. In addition, our analyses also took into consideration the effects of presumed health differences linked to donation behavior. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Using the Scandinavian Donation and Transfusion database (SCANDAT), we assessed the association between annual number of donations in 5-year windows and donor mortality by means of Poisson regression analysis. The analyses included adjustment for demographic characteristics and for an internal healthy donor effect, estimated among elderly donors exempted from continued donation because of age criteria. RESULTS: Statistical analyses included 1,182,495 donors of whom 15,401 died during 9,526,627 person-years of follow-up. Analyses adjusted only for demographic characteristics showed a 18.6% reduction in mortality per additional annual donation (95% confidence interval [CI], 16.8%-20.4%). After additional adjustment for the internal healthy donor effect, each additional annual donation was associated with a 7.5% decreased mortality risk 7.5% (95% CI, 5.7%-9.4%). CONCLUSION: We observed an inverse relationship between donation frequency and mortality. The magnitude of the association was reduced after adjustment for an estimate of self-selection in the donor population. Our observations indicate that repeated blood donation is not associated with premature death, but cannot be interpreted as conclusive evidence of a beneficial health effect.
BACKGROUND: Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that blood donors experience lower mortality than the general population. While this may suggest a beneficial effect of blood donation, it may also reflect the selection of healthy persons into the donor population. To overcome this bias, we investigated the relation between blood donation frequency and mortality within a large cohort of blood donors. In addition, our analyses also took into consideration the effects of presumed health differences linked to donation behavior. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Using the Scandinavian Donation and Transfusion database (SCANDAT), we assessed the association between annual number of donations in 5-year windows and donor mortality by means of Poisson regression analysis. The analyses included adjustment for demographic characteristics and for an internal healthy donor effect, estimated among elderly donors exempted from continued donation because of age criteria. RESULTS: Statistical analyses included 1,182,495 donors of whom 15,401 died during 9,526,627 person-years of follow-up. Analyses adjusted only for demographic characteristics showed a 18.6% reduction in mortality per additional annual donation (95% confidence interval [CI], 16.8%-20.4%). After additional adjustment for the internal healthy donor effect, each additional annual donation was associated with a 7.5% decreased mortality risk 7.5% (95% CI, 5.7%-9.4%). CONCLUSION: We observed an inverse relationship between donation frequency and mortality. The magnitude of the association was reduced after adjustment for an estimate of self-selection in the donor population. Our observations indicate that repeated blood donation is not associated with premature death, but cannot be interpreted as conclusive evidence of a beneficial health effect.
Authors: Katrine Grau; Senthil K Vasan; Klaus Rostgaard; Walter Bialkowski; Rut Norda; Henrik Hjalgrim; Gustaf Edgren Journal: Transfusion Date: 2016-11-18 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: Farnaz Vahidnia; Susan L Stramer; Debra Kessler; Beth Shaz; German Leparc; David E Krysztof; Simone A Glynn; Brian Custer Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2016-08-17 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: Matthew S Karafin; Roberta Bruhn; Matt Westlake; Marian T Sullivan; Walter Bialkowski; Gustaf Edgren; Nareg H Roubinian; Ronald G Hauser; Daryl J Kor; Debra Fleischmann; Jerome L Gottschall; Edward L Murphy; Darrell J Triulzi Journal: Transfusion Date: 2017-10-24 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: Rune Kjærsgaard Andersen; Isabella Charlotte Loft; Kristoffer Burgdorf; Christian Erikstrup; Ole B Pedersen; Gregor B E Jemec Journal: Acta Derm Venereol Date: 2021-01-20 Impact factor: 3.875
Authors: Katja van den Hurk; Saurabh Zalpuri; Femmeke J Prinsze; Eva-Maria Merz; Wim L A M de Kort Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-10-19 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Thomas Folkmann Hansen; Karina Banasik; Christian Erikstrup; Ole Birger Pedersen; David Westergaard; Piotr Jaroslaw Chmura; Kaspar Nielsen; Lise Thørner; Henrik Hjalgrim; Helene Paarup; Margit Anita Hørup Larsen; Mikkel Petersen; Poul Jennum; Steffen Andersen; Mette Nyegaard; Gregor Borut Ernst Jemec; Jes Olesen; Thomas Werge; Pär I Johansson; Erik Sørensen; Søren Brunak; Henrik Ullum; Kristoffer Sølvsten Burgdorf Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2019-06-09 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Simon Mark Dahl Jørgensen; Christian Erikstrup; Khoa Manh Dinh; Lars Erik Lemming; Jens Frederik Dahlerup; Christian Lodberg Hvas Journal: Gut Microbes Date: 2018-05-24