Analysis of Blood Donor Deferral Pattern during COVID-19 Pandemic at a Tertiary Care Hospital-based Blood Centre, Jammu and Kashmir, India: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Blood donor deferral is vital for ensuring safe blood transfusion. However, with the unfolding Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, significant changes were made in donor screening and blood donation criteria, resulting in a shift in the pattern of donor deferrals. Aim: To estimate the blood donor deferral patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Transfusion Medicine at SMHS Hospital/GMC Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The study spanned two years, from March 2020 to February 2022. All blood donors were screened in accordance with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), National Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) control organisation (National blood transfusion services) 2017 guidelines. The data was analysed in Microsoft Excel, considering factors such as age, gender, type of deferral, and reasons for deferral. Results: Deferred blood donors were most common in the age group of 18-33 years. During the study period, a total of 19,895 blood donors (19493 males and 402 females) were registered for blood donation. Out of these, 3441 donors (17.30%) were deferred, with a male donor deferral rate of 3258/19493 (16.71%) and a female donor deferral rate of 183/402 (45.52%). Temporary blood donor deferrals accounted for 3272 (95.09%) cases, while permanent deferrals were 169 (4.91%). The most common cause of deferral was low haemoglobin, accounting for 991/3441 (28.80%) cases, followed by deferrals due to reasons attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic (786/3441, 22.84%) and hypertension (653/3441, 18.98%). Conclusion: The study observed a substantial increase in the total donor deferral rate, as well as a change in the donor deferral pattern during the COVID-19 pandemic.