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1.
Efficacy and Safety of Pathogen-Reduced Platelets Compared with Standard Apheresis Platelets: A Systematic Review of RCTs
Pati I, Masiello F, Pupella S, Cruciani M, De Angelis V
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland). 2022;11(6)
Abstract
In this systematic review, we evaluate the efficacy and safety of blood components treated with pathogen reduction technologies (PRTs). We searched the Medline, Embase, Scopus, Ovid, and Cochrane Library to identify RCTs evaluating PRTs. Risk of bias assessment and the Mantel-Haenszel method for data synthesis were used. We included in this review 19 RCTs evaluating 4332 patients (mostly oncohematological patients) receiving blood components treated with three different PRTs. Compared with standard platelets (St-PLTs), the treatment with pathogen-reduced platelets (PR-PLTs) does not increase the occurrence of bleeding events, although a slight increase in the occurrence of severe bleeding events was observed in the overall comparison. No between-groups difference in the occurrence of serious adverse events was observed. PR-PLT recipients had a lower 1 and 24 h CI and CCI. The number of patients with platelet refractoriness and alloimmunization was significantly higher in PR-PLT recipients compared with St-PLT recipients. PR-PLT recipients had a higher number of platelet and RBC transfusions compared with St-PLT recipients, with a shorter transfusion time interval. The quality of evidence for these outcomes was from moderate to high. Blood components treated with PRTs are not implicated in serious adverse events, and PR-PLTs do not have a major effect on the increase in bleeding events. However, treatment with PRTs may require a greater number of transfusions in shorter time intervals and may be implicated in an increase in platelet refractoriness and alloimmunization.
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2.
The effectiveness of iron education through a mobile application on donor return after deferral for low hemoglobin
Hasan MI, Noordin SS, Hami R, Ishak N, Achuthan A
Blood transfusion = Trasfusione del sangue. 2022
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low hemoglobin level is a common cause of donor deferral and results in a huge loss of the donor pool. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile application as an educational tool to enhance donor return and improve hemoglobin levels after deferral. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was an interventional study involving 382 blood donors who were deferred for low hemoglobin. The donors were divided equally into two groups: a control group and the intervention group. The control group received standard management for low hemoglobin deferral, which includes a short counseling session and a 1-month course of oral iron therapy. The intervention group used a mobile application in addition to standard management. The primary endpoint was the number of blood donors who returned during the 7 months of follow-up. The secondary endpoints were the hemoglobin increment at the first visit after the donors' deferral. RESULTS The return rate was higher in the intervention group, with 81.2% of the donors returning in the 7 months of follow-up compared to 66% of the control group (p<0.001). Male and female donors had mean hemoglobin increments of 1.0 g/dL and 0.7 g/dL, respectively, in the intervention group, compared to decrements of 0.2 g/dL and 0.4 g/dL, respectively, in the control group (p<0.001). Multivariable analysis showed a significant association between intervention method, education level and donation status on donor return (p=0.015, p<0.001, and p<0.001, respectively). DISCUSSION Higher return rate and greater hemoglobin increase in the interventional group could be attributed to features in the mobile application. Repeat donors had the highest odds of returning to donate, followed by those with a tertiary level of education, and those given the mobile application. This study showed that a mobile application was effective in enhancing donor return and increasing hemoglobin level among deferred blood donors on their first return.
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3.
Effect of Plasma and Blood Donations on Levels of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Firefighters in Australia: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Gasiorowski R, Forbes MK, Silver G, Krastev Y, Hamdorf B, Lewis B, Tisbury M, Cole-Sinclair M, Lanphear BP, Klein RA, et al
JAMA network open. 2022;5(4):e226257
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Elevated levels of blood perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been associated with a range of adverse health outcomes. Firefighters have been exposed to PFASs in firefighting foams and have previously been shown to have higher PFAS levels in blood samples than the general population. No interventions have been shown to reduce PFAS levels. OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of blood or plasma donations on PFAS levels in firefighters in Australia. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This 52-week, open-label, randomized clinical trial enrolled participants from May 23 to August 23, 2019. Participants were 285 Fire Rescue Victoria staff or contractors with serum levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) of 5 ng/mL or more who were eligible to donate blood, had not donated blood in the 3 months prior to randomization, and were able to provide written informed consent. Analysis was performed on an intention-to-treat basis from May to July 2021. INTERVENTIONS Firefighters with baseline PFOS levels of 5 ng/mL or more were randomly assigned to donate plasma every 6 weeks for 12 months, donate blood every 12 weeks for 12 months, or be observed only. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary end points were changes in the serum PFOS and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) levels after 12 months of plasma or blood donations or after observation only. Secondary end points included changes in serum PFAS levels from week 52 to week 64, changes in other PFASs, and changes in complete blood count, biochemistry, thyroid function, and lipid profile from screening to week 52. RESULTS A total of 285 firefighters (279 men [97.9%]; mean [SD] age, 53.0 [8.4] years) were enrolled; 95 were randomly assigned to donate plasma, 95 were randomly assigned to donate blood, and 95 were randomly assigned to be observed. The mean level of PFOS at 12 months was significantly reduced by plasma donation (-2.9 ng/mL; 95% CI, -3.6 to -2.3 ng/mL; P < .001) and blood donation (-1.1 ng/mL; 95% CI, -1.5 to -0.7 ng/mL; P < .001) but was unchanged in the observation group. The mean level of PFHxS was significantly reduced by plasma donation (-1.1 ng/mL; 95% CI, -1.6 to -0.7 ng/mL; P < .001), but no significant change was observed in the blood donation or observation groups. Analysis between groups indicated that plasma donation had a larger treatment effect than blood donation, but both were significantly more efficacious than observation in reducing PFAS levels. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Plasma and blood donations caused greater reductions in serum PFAS levels than observation alone over a 12-month period. Further research is needed to evaluate the clinical implications of these findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION anzctr.org.au Identifier: ACTRN12619000204145.
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4.
Improving donor retention following a temporary deferral: A cluster randomized controlled trial of deferral educational materials
Gemelli CN, Kruse SP, Thijsen A, Van Dyke N, Karki S, Davison TE
Transfusion. 2022
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
BACKGROUND Providing educational materials to deferred donors has been shown to increase their understanding about their deferral and knowledge about their return. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of educational materials in increasing the retention of deferred donors. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS A three-arm cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted, with the following conditions: (a) Incenter Brochure plus Email; (b) Email Only; (c) Control. The Incenter Brochure plus Email condition also included a guided conversation led by staff at the point of deferral. Donors were followed up for 3 months after their deferral had ended to determine if they had attempted to donate. RESULTS Compared with the Control condition, donors in the Incenter Brochure plus Email condition had increased odds of return at 3 months after their deferral ended (OR: 1.16; 95% CI 1.00-1.33). Subgroup analysis highlighted that novice (OR: 1.38; 95% CI 1.04-1.83) and established donors (OR: 1.36; 95% CI 1.13-1.64) had increased odds of return if they received the incenter materials. Donors who were deferred to maintain their well-being (OR: 1.28; 95% CI 1.03-1.60) and donors with a prior deferral history (OR: 1.55; 95% CI 1.15-1.55) had increased odds of return if they received the incenter materials. No significant differences were found between the Email Only and Control conditions. DISCUSSION This trial demonstrates the benefits of providing onsite educational materials to donors at the point of deferral. This is a simple, effective strategy to increase the return behavior of donors within 3 months of their deferral ending.
PICO Summary
Population
Deferred blood donors from 30 Australian Lifeblood donor centers (n= 6,039).
Intervention
Incenter educational materials consisting of a brochure about referral and a ‘conversation guide’ prompting staff to be empathetic, plus a follow up email (Incenter Brochure plus Email group, n= 2,022).
Comparison
Business-as-usual incenter process and a follow up email (Email only group, n= 2,028). Business-as-usual deferral process (Control group, n= 1,989).
Outcome
Compared with donors in the Control group, donors in the Incenter Brochure plus Email group had increased odds of return at 3 months after their deferral ended (odds ratio (OR): 1.16). Subgroup analysis highlighted that novice (OR: 1.38) and established donors (OR: 1.36) had increased odds of return if they received the incenter materials. Donors who were deferred to maintain their well-being (OR: 1.28) and donors with a prior deferral history (OR: 1.55) had increased odds of return if they received the incenter materials. No significant differences were found between the Email Only and Control conditions.
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5.
Increased prevalence of transfusion-transmitted diseases among people with tattoos: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Lim SH, Lee S, Lee YB, Lee CH, Lee JW, Lee SH, Lee JY, Kim JS, Park MY, Koh SB, et al
PloS one. 2022;17(1):e0262990
Abstract
Whether having a tattoo increases the risk of transfusion-transmitted diseases (TTDs) is controversial. Although a few studies have suggested a strong association between having tattoos and TTDs, other studies have not shown the significance of the association. In addition, previous studies mainly focused only on hepatitis C viral infections. The objective of our study was to identify the prevalence and risk of TTDs in people with tattoos as compared with the non-tattooed population. A systematic review of the studies published before January 22, 2021, was performed using the Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Observational studies on hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and syphilis infections in people with and without tattoos were included. Studies that reported disease status without serological confirmation were excluded. A total of 121 studies were quantitatively analyzed. HCV (odds ratio [OR], 2.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.04-2.76), HBV (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.31-1.83), and HIV infections (OR, 3.55; 95% CI, 2.34-5.39) were more prevalent in the tattooed population. In subgroup analyses, the prevalence of HCV infection was significantly elevated in the general population, hospital patient, blood donor, intravenous (IV) drug user, and prisoner groups. IV drug users and prisoners showed high prevalence rates of HBV infection. The prevalence of HIV infection was significantly increased in the general population and prisoner groups. Having a tattoo is associated with an increased prevalence of TTDs. Our approach clarifies in-depth and supports a guideline for TTD screening in the tattooed population.
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6.
Assessing unintentional creation of bias against men who have sex with men as a function of exposure to blood donor screening questionnaire: A national randomized controlled trial
Hofkirchner A, Kohut T, O'Brien SF, Fisher WA
Transfusion. 2022
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
BACKGROUND Canadian Blood Services (CBS) screens donors based on group status (e.g., men who have sex with men, MSM) instead of specific, high-risk sexual practices (e.g., occurrence of condomless sex). The MSM screening question is embedded in a cluster of questions about stigmatized attributes such as history of imprisonment and illicit substance use. This juxtaposition of the "MSM question" and stigmatized attributes may unintentionally cause blood donors to perceive MSM more negatively. The aim of this research is to determine whether the CBS donor eligibility questionnaire generates negative bias against MSM. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS A national, randomized online study of 903 CBS donors was conducted. Participants completed either the existing blood donor eligibility questionnaire or a modified donor questionnaire that repositioned the MSM question among neutral questions. After completing the existing or modified questionnaire, bias against MSM was measured using the sexuality implicit association test (IAT) and Modern Homonegativity Scale - Gay Men (MHS-G). Lastly, participants estimated prevalence rates among MSM of certain stigmatized behaviors. RESULTS Participants who completed the existing donor eligibility questionnaire more strongly associated gay men with negative attributes on the IAT (p(one-tailed) = .045), suggesting question position generated implicit negative bias toward MSM. Responses to the MHS-G (p(one-tailed) = .506) and prevalence estimation task (p = .443) indicated that question order had no significant impact on explicit bias. DISCUSSION Positioning the MSM screening question among stigmatizing questions creates implicit negative bias against MSM. Policy makers should be mindful of question positioning when designing donor questionnaires.
PICO Summary
Population
Blood donors registered in the Canadian Blood Services (n= 903).
Intervention
Modified donor questionnaire that repositioned the men who have sex with men (MSM) question among neutral questions (n= 457).
Comparison
Existing blood donor eligibility questionnaire (n= 446).
Outcome
Participants who completed the existing donor eligibility questionnaire more strongly associated gay men with negative attributes on the sexuality implicit association test (IAT), suggesting question position generated implicit negative bias toward MSM. Responses to the Modern Homonegativity Scale - Gay Men (MHS-G) and prevalence estimation task indicated that question order had no significant impact on explicit bias.
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7.
Cardiovascular Benefits for Blood Donors? A Systematic Review
Quee FA, Peffer K, Ter Braake AD, Van den Hurk K
Transfusion medicine reviews. 2022
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
It has been proposed that blood donation could be protective against cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study is to systematically summarize and evaluate existing observational and experimental studies on effects of blood donation on cardiovascular risk and disease in donor and general populations. The electronic databases PubMed and EMBASE were searched until March 2019 for experimental and observational studies on blood donation and cardiovascular risk or disease. Excluded were studies performed in patient populations or with controls compared to a patient population, and studies performed in individuals aged <18 or >70. All identified studies were independently screened for eligibility and quality using validated scoring systems by 2 reviewers. A total of 44 studies met all criteria. We included 41 observational studies and 3 experimental studies. 14 studies had a quality assessment score of 7 or higher. Of those, a majority of 9 studies reported a protective effect of blood donation, while 5 studies found no effects on cardiovascular risk factors. Results on other various outcomes were inconsistent and study quality was generally poor. Whether or not blood donation protects against cardiovascular disease remains unclear. Studies showing beneficial effects may have inadequately dealt with the healthy donor effect. High quality studies are lacking and therefore definite conclusions cannot be drawn. Large RCTs or cohort studies of high quality with sufficient follow-up should be conducted to provide evidence on the possible association between blood donation and cardiovascular disease.
PICO Summary
Population
Blood donors (41 observational studies and 3 experimental studies).
Intervention
Systematic review to summarize and evaluate existing observational and experimental studies on effects of blood donation on cardiovascular risk and disease in donor and general populations.
Comparison
Outcome
From the 44 included studies, 14 had a quality assessment score of 7 or higher. Of those, a majority of 9 studies reported a protective effect of blood donation, while 5 studies found no effects on cardiovascular risk factors. Results on other outcomes were inconsistent and study quality was generally poor. It was unclear whether blood donation protected against cardiovascular disease. High quality studies were lacking.
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8.
Storage of red blood cells in alkaline PAGGGM improves metabolism but has no effect on posttransfusion recovery
de Bruin S, Peters AL, Wijnberge M, van Baarle FLF, AbdelRahman AHA, Vermeulen C, Beuger BM, Reisz JA, D'Alessandro A, Vlaar APJ, et al
Blood advances. 2022
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Abstract
Additive solutions are used to limit changes that red blood cells (RBCs) undergo during storage. Several studies have shown better preservation of glucose and redox metabolism using the alkaline additive solution PAGGGM (phosphate-adenine-glucose-guanosine-gluconate-mannitol). In this randomized open label intervention trial in 20 healthy volunteers, the effect of storage, PAGGGM versus SAGM (saline-adenine-glucose-mannitol), on post transfusion recovery (PTR) and metabolic restoration after transfusion was assessed. Subjects received an autologous biotinylated RBC concentrate stored for 35 days in SAGM or in PAGGGM. As a reference for the PTR, a 2-days stored autologous biotinylated RBC concentrate stored in SAGM was simultaneously transfused. RBC phenotype and PTR were assessed after transfusion. Biotinylated RBCs were isolated from the circulation for metabolomics analysis up to 24 hours after transfusion. The PTR was significantly higher in 2 days stored RBCs than in 35 days stored RBCs after 2 and 7 days after transfusion: 96% [90-99] versus 72% [66-89] and 96% [90-99] versus 72% [66-89] respectively. PTR of SAGM and PAGGGM stored RBCs did not differ significantly. Glucose and redox metabolism were better preserved in PAGGGM stored RBCs. Thedifferences measured in the blood bag remained present after transfusion only until one day after transfusion. No differences in RBC phenotype were found besides an increased complement C3 deposition on 35 days RBCs stored in PAGGGM. Our data indicate that despite better metabolic preservation, PAGGGM is not a suitable alternative for SAGM since storage in PAGGGM did not result in an increased PTR. Finally, RBCs that were recovered from circulation after transfusion showed reversal of the metabolic storage lesion in vivo within a day. This study is registered in the Dutch trial register (NTR6492).
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9.
Impact of disasters on blood donation rates and blood safety: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Laermans J, O D, Van den Bosch E, De Buck E, Compernolle V, Shinar E, Vandekerckhove P
Vox sanguinis. 2022
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Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Timely and adequate access to safe blood forms an integral part of universal health coverage, but it may be compromised by natural or man-made disasters. This systematic review provides MATERIALS AND METHODS Five databases (The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and CINAHL) were searched until 27 March 2020 for (un)controlled studies investigating the impact of disasters on blood donation rates and/or safety. Risk of bias and overall certainty of the evidence were assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. RESULTS Eighteen observational studies were identified, providing very low certainty of evidence (due to high risk of bias, inconsistency and/or imprecision) on the impact of natural (12 studies) and man-made/technological (6 studies) disasters. The available evidence did not enable us to form any generalizable conclusions on the impact on blood donation rates. Meta-analyses could not detect any statistically significant changes in transfusion-transmissible infection (TTI) rates [hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1/2, human T-lymphotropic virus I and II (HTLV-I/II) and syphilis] in donated blood after a disaster, either in first-time or repeat donors, although the evidence is very uncertain. CONCLUSION The very low certainty of evidence synthetized in this systematic review indicates that it is very uncertain whether there is an association between disaster occurrence and changes in TTI rates in donated blood. The currently available evidence did not allow us to draw generalizable conclusions on the impact of disasters on blood donation rates.
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10.
Effects of message framing on recruiting Rh-D-negative blood donors in an emergency situation: Two randomized trials
Ou-Yang J, Huang XY, Fu YS, Dai L, Zhong HB, Jiang J, Liang HQ
British journal of health psychology. 2021
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Prospect theory categorizes message framing according to whether it emphasizes a possible loss or a possible gain. Promotions of blood donation worldwide mainly focus on gain-framed appeal. The objective of the current study is to examine the effects of message framing on recruiting Rh-D-negative blood donors (RDNBDs) in an emergency situation. DESIGN Two randomized trials. METHODS In Study 1, 813 group O and 500 group B RDNBDs were randomly assigned to three groups receiving three different recruitment text messages: (1) gain-framed, (2) loss-framed, and (3) information messages. In addition, 613 group A and 148 group AB RDNBDs were marked as (4) no message group. In Study 2, 758 RDNBDs were randomly provided one of two versions of materials focusing on either the possible survival (gain-framed) or the death (loss-framed) of a Rh-D-negative patient needed a blood transfusion. These participants then completed a questionnaire to examine the possible mechanisms underlying the observed effects. RESULTS Compared to not receiving any message, significantly more RDNBDs re-donated within 14 days after they received a loss-framed message. Study 2 found that RDNBDs who read the loss-framed material expressed more willingness to donate immediately than those who read the gain-framed material. RDNBDs with high-risk perception expressed a greater blood donation intention in the loss-framed group. The loss-framed message made participants perceive others' needs more strongly, which generated more empathy, and thus increased blood donation intention. CONCLUSIONS The results suggested that recruiting RDNBDs using a loss-framed message is suitable under an emergency.
PICO Summary
Population
Rh-D-negative blood donors (RDNBDs) from two studies, (study 1, n= 2,074; study 2, n= 2,559).
Intervention
Gain-framed text messages and materials.
Comparison
Various comparators of text messages and materials (loss-framed, informative, and no message).
Outcome
Study 1 showed that significantly more RDNBDs re-donated within 14 days after receiving loss-framed message, compared to not receiving any message. Study 2 found that RDNBDs who read the loss-framed material expressed more willingness to donate immediately than those who read the gain-framed material. RDNBDs with high-risk perception expressed a greater blood donation intention in the loss-framed group.