Thomas Volken1, Andreas Buser2, Damiano Castelli3, Stefano Fontana4, Beat M Frey5, Ilka Rüsges-Wolter6, Amira Sarraj7, Jörg Sigle8, Jutta Thierbach9, Tina Weingand10, Behrouz Mansouri Taleghani11. 1. School of Health Professions, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland. 2. Blood Transfusion Centre Basel, Swiss Red Cross, Basel, Switzerland. 3. Blood Transfusion Service Svizzera italiana, Swiss Red Cross, Lugano, Switzerland. 4. Inter-regional Blood Transfusion Service, Swiss Red Cross, Bern, Switzerland. 5. Blood Transfusion Service Zurich, Swiss Red Cross, Schlieren, Switzerland. 6. PROlindo, Lindenhofgruppe, Bern, Switzerland. 7. Blood Transfusion Service Neuchâtelois et Jurassien, Swiss Red Cross, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. 8. Blood Transfusion Centre Aargau-Solothurn, Swiss Red Cross, Aarau, Switzerland. 9. Blood Transfusion Service Eastern Switzerland, Swiss Red Cross, St. Gallen, Switzerland. 10. Blood Transfusion Service Central Switzerland, Swiss Red Cross, Lucerne, Switzerland. 11. Swiss Transfusion SRC, Swiss Red Cross, Bern, Switzerland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Several studies have raised concerns that future demand for blood products may not be met. The ageing of the general population and the fact that a large proportion of blood products is transfused to elderly patients has been identified as an important driver of blood shortages. The aim of this study was to collect, for the first time, nationally representative data regarding blood donors and transfusion recipients in order to predict the future evolution of blood donations and red blood cell (RBC) use in Switzerland between 2014 and 2035. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood donor and transfusion recipient data, subdivided by the subjects' age and gender were obtained from Regional Blood Services and nine large, acute-care hospitals in various regions of Switzerland. Generalised additive regression models and time-series models with exponential smoothing were employed to estimate trends of whole blood donations and RBC transfusions. RESULTS: The trend models employed suggested that RBC demand could equal supply by 2018 and could eventually cause an increasing shortfall of up to 77,000 RBC units by 2035. DISCUSSION: Our study highlights the need for continuous monitoring of trends of blood donations and blood transfusions in order to take proactive measures aimed at preventing blood shortages in Switzerland. Measures should be taken to improve donor retention in order to prevent a further erosion of the blood donor base.
BACKGROUND: Several studies have raised concerns that future demand for blood products may not be met. The ageing of the general population and the fact that a large proportion of blood products is transfused to elderly patients has been identified as an important driver of blood shortages. The aim of this study was to collect, for the first time, nationally representative data regarding blood donors and transfusion recipients in order to predict the future evolution of blood donations and red blood cell (RBC) use in Switzerland between 2014 and 2035. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood donor and transfusion recipient data, subdivided by the subjects' age and gender were obtained from Regional Blood Services and nine large, acute-care hospitals in various regions of Switzerland. Generalised additive regression models and time-series models with exponential smoothing were employed to estimate trends of whole blood donations and RBC transfusions. RESULTS: The trend models employed suggested that RBC demand could equal supply by 2018 and could eventually cause an increasing shortfall of up to 77,000 RBC units by 2035. DISCUSSION: Our study highlights the need for continuous monitoring of trends of blood donations and blood transfusions in order to take proactive measures aimed at preventing blood shortages in Switzerland. Measures should be taken to improve donor retention in order to prevent a further erosion of the blood donor base.
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