Eastern Finland Research Articles

Kääntäjät ja kääntimet monikielisessä yhteiskunnassa

This text is a written reproduction of the inaugural lecture held at the University of Eastern Finland on 25 September 2024.

Predictors, Diagnoses, and Costs of Emergency Department Visits among Home Care Clients

ObjectivesTo examine factors, diagnoses, and costs associated with emergency department (ED) visits among home care clients. DesignA prospective 1-year follow-up study. Settings and ParticipantsMore information is needed regarding the reasons and costs associated with ED visits by home care clients. Participants were persons aged ≥65 years living in Eastern Finland and receiving regular home care services (n = 293). MethodsData collection included clients’ demographics, health status (Charlson Comorbidity Index), medication use, assessments of physical (Timed Up and Go) and cognitive functioning (Mini-Mental State Examination), Basic and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, mood (Geriatric Depression Scale, GDS-15) and health-related quality of life [HRQoL, EuroQol (EQ-5D-3 L)]. Logistic regression and univariate analyses of variance were conducted. The costs (total and per person-year) of ED visits were calculated. ResultsThe number of ED visits was 775 during the follow-up (mean 350 days). The likelihood of ED visits was reduced by better HRQoL and increased by a higher GDS-15 score, longer TUG times, and a history of heart failure and decreased glomerular infiltration. The most common primary diagnoses for ED visits were heart failure (8.4%), atrial fibrillation (4.0%), respiratory infection (4.0%), and cystitis (3.5%). The total costs of all ED visits during the follow-up were 251,247 € and internal medicine and surgery accounted for 142,726 € and 89,212 € of the cost, respectively. The costs per person-year were 981 €. Conclusions and ImplicationsHRQoL, depressive symptoms, mobility, and heart and renal failure were associated with the number of ED visits. The most common reasons for ED visits were chronic heart conditions and infectious diseases and the highest costs were incurred by internal medicine treatment. With advanced care planning and active symptom screening and cooperation of home care nurses and physicians, some of the ED visits, for example due to heart failure, might be preventable.

Proximal Humeral Fractures in Finland – Regional Differences in Incidence and Methods of Treatment

Proximal humeral fractures (PHF) are one of the most common fragility fractures and there is accumulating evidence that even displaced PHFs should be treated conservatively. The treatment should be as effective and standardized as possible regardless of the hospital district of the patient. The aim of this study was to describe possible regional variation in incidence and treatment methods of PHFs in Finland. The study included all Finnish inhabitants aged 16 years and older with PHF diagnosis between 1997 and 2019. All records are based on data from two national registers. The fractures and operations were organized according to hospital district of the patient and annual incidences of PHFs, and different treatment methods were calculated for each hospital district. Between 1997 and 2019, 79,053 PHFs were identified. 64,117 of PHFs were treated conservatively and 14,936 operatively. The incidence of conservative treatment corresponded closely to the fracture incidence per hospital district. Internal fixation (IF) incidence generally increased towards the end of the first half of the study period and declined thereafter, and hemiarthroplasty (HA) was replaced by total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) as the most common type of arthroplasty by the end of the period. We found regional variation in the incidence of PHFs, with a low of 61.4 per 105 in Åland, and a high of 97.7 per 105 in East-Savo. In Finland, the treatment of PHFs did not differ fundamentally between hospital districts and a general evidence-based shift in treatment practice was shown. We found regional variation in the incidence of PHFs, and it seems that the higher incidence of PHFs is concentrated in the Eastern Finland.

Distribution and in situ bioaccumulation test of radioecologically relevant metals in boreal freshwater sediments

Sediments act as important sinks for metals and their radionuclides in aquatic environments and play a crucial role in their transfer and uptake to aquatic organisms. Traditional radioecological models use radionuclide concentrations in water to predict concentrations in aquatic organisms. In this study, we investigated the distribution of radioecologically important metals (Ba, Co, Ni, Sr, U) among sediment, porewater and hypolimnion over seasons. We also studied the uptake of these metals to benthic organisms and importance of sediment as an uptake source by conducting a 28-day in situ bioaccumulation experiment with oligochaete worms (Lumbriculus variegatus). The studied metals were chosen based on common occurrence of their radioactive isotopes in nuclear fuel cycle. Measurements of total elemental concentration were used as proxies to study the behavior of specific radionuclides. Sediment and water samples were collected from two small lakes connected to a former uranium mine in Eastern Finland, and from a nearby reference lake connected to a different drainage area. Environmental characteristics and concentrations measured from sediment, porewater and overlying water indicated only minor changes between seasons. Measured metals were highly associated with sediment particles, rather than porewater or hypolimnion. Both the distribution of metals and in situ experiment indicated the importance of sediment as the main source of bioaccumulation. Significant differences in Ba, Ni and U concentrations between treatments containing contaminated sediment and reference sediment were noted, regardless of water concentrations. Additionally, as U contaminated lakes lacked seasonal overturn during our monitoring period, metal distribution and environmental conditions remained unchanged in deeper parts of those lakes. Lastly, the results of this in situ bioaccumulation experiment are in line with the findings of our previous laboratory study using sediments from these same lakes.

Responses of needle terpene concentrations and characteristics of resin canals to different warming treatments in Scots pine and Norway spruce seedlings grown in a field experiment

We studied responses of needle terpene concentrations and resin canal characteristics to warming in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) seedlings grown in a controlled field set-up in eastern Finland. Warming was simulated during the growing seasons using infrared heaters that increased air temperature in study 1 (2016–2019) by 1°C and in study 2 (2019–2020) by 2°C and 4°C, compared to ambient conditions. Terpenes were sampled in study 1 from non-matured current year and matured previous year needles in June 2019, and study 2 from mature current-year needles in August 2020. In study 1, we also studied resin canal anatomy. We found that 1°C elevation of temperature caused two-fold increase in concentrations of total terpenes, oxygenated monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes of non-matured current year needles of Norway spruce. Further, it caused 1.3-1.8-fold increases in sesquiterpene concentrations both in unmatured and matured needles of Scots pine. It also decreased resin canal diameter of mature needles in Norway spruce. In study 2, the stronger warming treatments did not affect terpene concentrations of matured current-year needles in either species. Based on our findings, even minor elevation of temperature may affect terpene concentrations of non-mature needles in boreal conifers.

Understanding the Intergenerational Impact of Migration: An Adult Mortality Advantage for the Children of Forced Migrants?

Children of immigrants often have excess mortality rates, in contrast to the low mortality typically exhibited by their parents' generation. However, prior research has studied children of immigrants who were selected for migration, thereby rendering it difficult to isolate the intergenerational impact of migration on adult mortality. We use semiparametric survival analysis to carry out a total population cohort study estimating all-cause and cause-specific mortality among all adult men and women from age of 17 years among all men and women born in 1953-1972 and resident in Finland in 1970-2020. We compare children of forced migrants from ceded Karelia, an area of Finland that was ceded to Russia during the Second World War, with the children of parents born in present-day Finland. Children with two parents who were forced migrants have higher mortality than children with two parents born in Northern, Southern, and Western Finland, but similar or lower mortality than the subpopulation of children whose parents were born in the more comparable areas of Eastern Finland. For women and men, a mortality advantage is largest for external causes and persists after controlling for socioeconomic factors. Our findings suggest that forced migration can have a beneficial impact on the mortality of later generations, at least in the case where forced migrants are able to move to contextually similar locations that offer opportunities for rapid integration and social mobility. The findings also highlight the importance of making appropriate comparisons when evaluating the impact of forced migration.

Long-Term Health Economic Evaluation of Intermittently Scanned Glucose Monitoring Compared with Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose in a Real-World Setting in Finnish Adult Individuals with Type 1 Diabetes.

Background and Aims: There has been an evolving trend in the use of intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) among individuals with type 1 diabetes. Although isCGM is proven to be beneficial in the treatment of individuals with type 1 diabetes, its use leads to increasing device costs. This study aimed to investigate the long-term cost-effectiveness of isCGM. Methods: Long-term clinical outcomes and costs were projected using the IQVIA Core Diabetes Model (v10.0) based on the observed real-world outcomes of isCGM. The clinical input data for the analysis were sourced from a real-world patient cohort from Eastern Finland, including 877 adult individuals with type 1 diabetes with isCGM (i.e., Freestyle Libre 1 and 2). At the baseline, the patients' mean age was 48 years, and the mean duration of diabetes was 25.8 years. The mean baseline HbA1c was 8.6%, and the mean 12-month change from baseline in HbA1c was -0.37% after the initiation of isCGM. The cost-effectiveness analysis was performed over a lifetime time horizon. A discount rate of 3% was used for the future costs and health outcomes. Results: The projected use of isCGM was associated with improved quality-adjusted life year (QALY) expectancy of 0.84 QALYs after the start of isCGM. The direct lifetime costs were 7861 EUR higher with the use of isCGM, which resulted in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of 9396 EUR per QALY gained. Conclusions: According to the present analysis, the use of isCGM is considered cost-effective in adult individuals with type 1 diabetes in a real-world setting in Finland.

Koli Calling 2024: Call for Participation

We warmly invite you to attend the 24th Koli Calling International Conference on Computing Education Research (Koli Calling 2024), to be held 14-17 November 2024 in the beautiful Koli National Forest in Eastern Finland. While the submission deadline for full papers and discussion papers has passed, you can still submit posters and demo papers by 20 September 2024.

Implementing online learning of Diagnostic Criteria for the Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) protocol in undergraduate dental education.

The Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) is part of the undergraduate dental curriculum. Online teaching has nowadays become common also in dentistry. To compare undergraduate students' self-assessed ability and satisfaction with learning DC/TMD Axis I between traditional and online learning and to evaluate the possible gains of online teaching. Third-year undergraduate dental students in 2018 (traditional learning, Group 1, n = 43/50) and in 2019 (online learning, Group 2, n = 34/50) at the University of Oulu, Finland evaluated their self-assessed ability and satisfaction with learning DC/TMD clinical examination and diagnostics on a 10-point scale. Additionally, those participating in online courses answered to two open-ended questions; Group 2 (n = 50) and another group from the University of Eastern Finland in 2019 and 2020 (n = 75, Group 3). Total of 105/125 students (84%) responded. Content analysis was used to open-ended responses. The online course reported significantly higher self-assessed ability in measurements (p = 0.004), identifying referred pain (p = 0.043) and statement for the diagnostics (p = 0.017) and also higher self-assessed satisfaction in measurements (p = 0.046). According to the content analysis, essential gains of online teaching were efficient learning, videos and exercises, and adjustability to own timetable. The online learning course can be considered as a good option for traditional learning of the DC/TMD protocol.

The composition of apatite in the Archean Siilinjärvi glimmerite-carbonatite complex in eastern Finland

We present a geochemical dataset and cathodoluminescence images of apatite from the Neoarchean (2610 Ma) glimmerite-carbonatite rocks from the Siilinjärvi complex, Eastern Finland. The subhedral, tapered prismatic grains are compositionally fluorapatite, with limited substitution of Ca by Sr, Na and low REE and Si contents. The Sr/Y ratios are among the highest in a global apatite comparison, comparable to those from other calcite carbonatites, dolomite carbonatites, and phoscorites. Some grains show evidence of late- or post-magmatic interaction with a carbonatite magma or a hydrothermal fluid, resulting in REE-rich overgrowth rims or recrystallized grains with abundant fluid inclusions. We interpret the high Sr/Y ratios combined with low REE contents and depleted heavy REE+Y to represent crystallization from a mantle-derived carbonatite parental magma. We show that the Siilinjärvi apatite is chemically heterogeneous but with a limited range in compositions. There are noticeable compositional differences on all spatial scales from micrometer to tens of meters, i.e., within a single crystal, between crystals in a sample, between samples and the two individual sampling locations. We conclude that the intra-crystal geochemical variability in apatite is a suitable tracer of the magmatic and post-magmatic evolution of carbonatite complexes.

Phosphorus - A key element determining nitrous oxide emissions from boreal cultivated peat soil

Spatial variation in the emission rates of nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) in soils can be significant due to the diverse biological, chemical, and physical conditions that influence the production and consumption of these gases. Drained organic soils are known to be hotspots for N2O emissions, and in wet conditions they can also emit CH4. We measured N2O and CH4 fluxes during the winter and growing season at 28 locations across a 7-ha area of drained organic agricultural soil in Eastern Finland. Our findings revealed expected high spatial and temporal variations in emission rates. The measured N2O emissions varied between −0.003 and 30.4 mg N2O m−2 h−1, averaging at 0.94 ± 3.00 mg N2O m−2 h−1 and CH4 emissions varied between −0.27 and 2.90 mg CH4 m−2 h−1, averaging at 0.10 ± 0.33 mg CH4 m−2 h−1. Phosphorus concentration was identified as a limiting factor and a critical determinant of spatial variations in N2O emissions, whereas CH4 emissions exhibited a decreasing trend with increasing sulphur and nitrate concentrations. Our study shows that N2O and CH4 fluxes are linked to other elemental cycles, making it critical to identify key nutrient-related processes that govern the spatial and temporal variability in emissions of these gases.

Use of oral health care services by family caregivers and care recipients: the LENTO intervention.

We aimed to evaluate the impact of an individually tailored preventive oral health intervention on the use of oral health care services by older family caregivers (FCs) and their care recipients (CRs). A randomized controlled six and 12-month oral health intervention study included FCs and CRs aged ≥65 years living in Eastern Finland. The participants were randomly assigned to an intervention (FCs n = 53, CRs n = 47) and a control (FCs n = 39, CRs n = 35) group. Individually tailored oral health interventions for the FCs provided by a dental hygienist focused on oral hygiene and self-care. Generalized estimating equations were used to analyze the impact of intervention on the change in the use of oral health care services. The intervention had no significant effect on the use of oral health care services by the FCs or their CRs. Traditional factors such as female gender, a higher number of teeth, toothache, no dental fear, and higher morbidity were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with an increased use of oral health care services in the FCs, but not among the CRs. Individually tailored preventive oral health intervention showed no effect on the use of oral health care services. To promote oral health among the elderly, specific interventions focusing on use of oral health care services are needed. clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04003493.

Lakeshore areas of conservation interest: Characteristics of nursery areas of the threatened lake‐dwelling grayling, Thymallus thymallus

AbstractResearch‐based knowledge is essential for effective conservation and restoration of threatened aquatic species and habitats. Here, our aim was to gather this knowledge on the lake‐dwelling grayling (Thymallus thymallus), typically a riverine fish. Such atypical populations are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts, including fishing pressure, climate change, eutrophication and waterway construction, some of which affect especially the early life stages. However, there is little information available to guide management and conservation of grayling in lakes. Accordingly, we assessed characteristics of the nursery areas in the threatened grayling population of Lake Puruvesi (eastern Finland). In particular, we used beach seines in two consecutive years to sample lakeshore sites (including islands) that were a priori presumed suitable for grayling. We assessed the occurrence of grayling fry (larvae and post‐larvae &lt;40 mm in length) regarding depth, year, the site's exposure (fetch), bottom shear stress, substrate coarseness and shoreline's north–south orientation. Overall, we found grayling fry in low numbers at every fourth site, with the sites’ exposure and dominant substrate coarseness being most relevant variables. In particular, more exposed sites (i.e. with higher fetch values) and fine‐grained substrates dominated by sand or gravel had more grayling fry. Average depth, bottom shear stress or shoreline orientation along the north–south axis did not have a significant effect. Together, the results suggest that the most important nursery areas for lake‐dwelling grayling are lakeshore zones that are barren and exposed. Hence, the sites share characteristics with those used for reproduction by the more common riverine grayling. We hope that these findings will facilitate lake‐dwelling grayling's management and conservation efforts.

Relationships and Mendelian Randomization of Gut Microbe-Derived Metabolites with Metabolic Syndrome Traits in the METSIM Cohort.

The role of gut microbe-derived metabolites in the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS) remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the associations of gut microbe-derived metabolites and MetS traits in the cross-sectional Metabolic Syndrome In Men (METSIM) study. The sample included 10,194 randomly related men (age 57.65 ± 7.12 years) from Eastern Finland. Levels of 35 metabolites were tested for associations with 13 MetS traits using lasso and stepwise regression. Significant associations were observed between multiple MetS traits and 32 metabolites, three of which exhibited particularly robust associations. N-acetyltryptophan was positively associated with Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistant (HOMA-IR) (β = 0.02, p = 0.033), body mass index (BMI) (β = 0.025, p = 1.3 × 10-16), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (β = 0.034, p = 5.8 × 10-10), triglyceride (0.087, p = 1.3 × 10-16), systolic (β = 0.012, p = 2.5 × 10-6) and diastolic blood pressure (β = 0.011, p = 3.4 × 10-6). In addition, 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) lactate yielded the strongest positive associations among all metabolites, for example, with HOMA-IR (β = 0.23, p = 4.4 × 10-33), and BMI (β = 0.097, p = 5.1 × 10-52). By comparison, 3-aminoisobutyrate was inversely associated with HOMA-IR (β = -0.19, p = 3.8 × 10-51) and triglycerides (β = -0.12, p = 5.9 × 10-36). Mendelian randomization analyses did not provide evidence that the observed associations with these three metabolites represented causal relationships. We identified significant associations between several gut microbiota-derived metabolites and MetS traits, consistent with the notion that gut microbes influence metabolic homeostasis, beyond traditional risk factors.

Modulus of Elasticity and Bending Strength of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Wood from Commercial Thinnings

The static bending properties of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) clear wood were studied using a material collected from commercial thinning forests in eastern Finland. In Myrtillus type, the modulus of elasticity and bending strength of the first thinning wood were 7.8 GPa and 66.0 MPa, respectively, whereas for more mature wood from the second thinnings, the modulus of elasticity and bending strength were 10.0 GPa and 80.3 MPa. The results were compared with final fellings, which resulted in the modulus of elasticity of 10.1 GPa and bending strength of 81.8 MPa. The bending properties of the first thinning material were low, and thus they did not indicate any potential for applications requiring high strength or stiffness and material homogeneity. On the contrary, the properties of Scots pine wood from the second commercial thinnings may be comparable with or sometimes even better than those of the final-felling wood. The results can be utilised in wood marketing, procurement, sorting, allocation to different industries and end-uses, as well as in wood processing, product sales, and branding.

Virtual Reality simulation and Video Lecture are Equally Effective in Abscess Incision Training: A Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial

Introduction The aim of the study was to evaluate undergraduate medical students’ knowledge and self-confidence to perform abscess incision after virtual reality-simulation or video lecture. Pre and post-knowledge assessment was conducted. Materials and Methods This was a multicentre randomised controlled trial from October 2021 to January 2022. The study was carried out at two universities providing medical education. Undergraduate medical students were randomized into either fully immersive head mounted display virtual reality-simulation (VR) or video lecture. Pre- and post-learning surveys probed self-confidence and student’s own assessment of competence. Participants were third-, fourth- and fifth-year medical students from the University of Eastern Finland and the University of Helsinki. All students were sent an email informing them of the opportunity to participate in this voluntary study. All willing students were included in the study. Results 42 medical students participated in the study. Most were fourth year medical students, 52% of the participants had previously used VR in some context and the mean age of participants was around 25 years. Both methods increased knowledge and self-confidence equally. In VR subgroup, those with technical support available experienced greater learning than those without. Conclusions Interestingly, in the present study, both VR and video lecture increased knowledge and professional self-confidence equally.

Long-term outcome of operated Chiari I patients between 2005 and 2020 in Eastern Finland

PurposeThe purpose of our study was to examine the long-term outcomes of operated Chiari malformation type 1 (CM1) patients and evaluate whether different duraplasty techniques affected outcome after surgery in Kuopio University Hospital catchment area.MethodsIn this retrospective study, a total of 93 patients were diagnosed with CM1 and underwent posterior fossa decompression surgery with or without duraplasty between 2005 and 2020. All patients’ medical records were examined for baseline characteristics, surgical details, and long-term follow-up data after operation.ResultsThe mean age of CM1 patients was 25.9 years (SD 19.2 years), with female preponderance 69/93 (73.4%). The mean clinical follow-up time was 26.5 months (SD 33.5 months). The most common presenting symptoms were headache, symptoms of extremities, and paresthesia. Posterior fossa decompression with duraplasty was performed in 87 (93.5%) patients and bony decompression in 6 (6.5%) patients. After surgery, preoperative symptoms alleviated in 84.9% (79/93) and the postoperative syringomyelia regression rate was 89.2% (33/37) of all patients. The postoperative complication rate was 34.4% (32/93), with aseptic meningitis being the most common, 25.8% (24/93). Revision surgery was required in 14% (13/93) of patients. No significant correlation between postoperative outcome and extent of dural decompression, or type of duraplasty performed was found.ConclusionThis is the largest reported series of surgically treated CM1 patients in Finland. Posterior fossa decompression is an effective procedure for CM1 symptomology. Duraplasty technique had no significant difference in complication rate or long-term outcomes.

Secular change of tectonic setting in the Archean Takanen greenstone belt, northeastern Karelia Province, Fennoscandian Shield

The target of this study is the Takanen greenstone belt (TGB), a small 11-km-long and east-west oriented supracrustal belt in the northern Lentua complex of the Western Karelia Subprovince (eastern Finland). We present a new geological interpretation of the TGB based on lithology, geochemistry, stratigraphy, and two new zircon U-Pb age determinations and Lu-Hf-in-zircon data. The TGB forms a ���≥800-m-thick synclinal sequence composed of intercalated mafic-���komatiitic and felsic-intermediate volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks (lavas, tuffs, and tuffites) crosscut by granitoid dykes, and metamorphosed in lower amphibolite facies with few primary volcanic textures visible. The felsic-intermediate rocks are calc-alkaline and split into strongly and weakly REE-fractionated groups. The mafic-ultramafic rocks are tholeiitic with flat REE-patterns, but some samples show LREE-enrichment. Massive Fe-sulfide layers (≤��1 m) are associated with volcanoclastic rocks. Komatiites are Al-undepleted and comprise differentiated (peridotite-gabbro) and undifferentiated (dunite/serpentinite) cumulates and thin undifferentiated flows. Channel-facies komatiitic cumulates are found stratigraphically above Fe-sulfide-rich unites and have �potential for komatiite-hosted Ni-deposits. Our new isotope data from two felsic-intermediate volcanic rock samples shows that the TGBs stratigraphically lowermost and uppermost units are 2.96 Ga and 2.71 Ga old, respectively. Based on Hf isotope data, the older 2.96 Ga sample contains reworked crustal material, possibly originating from ~3.2 Ga crust.In contrast, the 2.71 Ga sample is isotopically juvenile (near-chondritic), indicating an episode of juvenile crust formation in the northern Lentua Complex. No unconformity is found between the stratigraphically upper and lower parts of the TGB, but the ~250 Ma age difference (and geochemical indicators) suggests they may have formed in different tectonic settings. The lower part of TGB stratigraphy is correlated with the ~2.94 Ga Luoma Formation in the nearby Suomussalmi greenstone belt. The 2.71 Ga volcanic unit does not have a known equivalent in greenstone belts in Finland, but a corollary is found in Russia, and a tentative correlation to a possible 2.75–2.70 Ga arc-system in Takanen–Khedozero-Bolshozero–Ilomantsi is suggested.

European Journal of Geography (Year 2023): Reviewer Appreciation &amp; Publication Recap

European Journal of Geography (Year 2023): Reviewer Appreciation &amp; Publication Recap

Blood donor biobank as a resource in personalised biomedical genetic research.

Health questionnaires and donation criteria result in accumulation of highly selected individuals in ablood donor population. To understand better the usefulness of ablood donor-based biobank in personalised disease-associated genetic studies, and for possible personalised blood donation policies, we evaluated the occurrence and distributions of common and rare disease-associated genetic variants in Finnish Blood Service Biobank. We analysed among 31,880 blood donors the occurrence and geographical distribution of (i) 53 rare Finnish-enriched disease-associated variants, (ii) mutations assumed to influence blood donation: four Bernard-Soulier syndrome and two hemochromatosis mutations, (iii) type I diabetes risk genotype HLA-DQ2/DQ8. In addition, we analysed the level of consanguinity in Blood Service Biobank. 80.3% of blood donors carried at least one (range 0-9 per donor) of the rare variants, many in homozygous form, as well. Donors carrying multiple rare variants were enriched in Eastern Finland. Haemochromatosis mutation HFE C282Y homozygosity was 43.8% higher than expected, whereas mutations leading to Bernard-Soulier thrombocytopenia were rare. The frequency of HLA-DQ2/DQ8 genotype was slightly lower than expected. First-degree consanguinity was higher in Blood Service Biobank than in the general population. We demonstrate that despite donor selection, the Blood Service Biobank is a valuable resource for personalised medical research and for genotype-selected samples from unaffected individuals. The geographical genetic substructure of Finland enables efficient recruitment of donors carrying rare variants. Furthermore, we show that blood donor biobank material can be utilised for personalised blood donation policies.