Iron deficiency among French whole‐blood donors: first assessment and identification of predictive factors

Abstract

Background The objectives of this study are to estimate the prevalence of iron deficiency (ID) among French whole‐blood (WB) donors to identify factors associated with ID and to generate decision trees. Study design and methods A prospective National multicentre study was performed on WB donors from March 11, to April 5th, 2019. Samples were selected randomly to perform serum ferritin. ID was defined as ferritin value under 26 ng/ml. All results were stratified by sex. Factors associated with ID were analysed using multivariate logistic regression model. CART algorithm was used for decision trees. Results Eleven thousand two hundred fifty eight WB donors were included. ID was more frequent in women (39·5%) than in men (18·0%). Among 7200 repeated donors, women below 50 yo had a higher risk (OR = 2·37; [1·97–2·85] IC95) than those above 50 yo. Factors associated with ID were: haemoglobin level under the threshold at donation n‐1 except for women and n‐2 donation; a low mean corpuscular haemoglobin at n‐1 and n‐2 donations; a shorter interval since n‐1 donation and between n‐1 and n‐2 donations except for women; and women who had given three or four times in the last year. CART algorithm defined high risk of ID subgroups within three populations of donors, new female donors, repeated male donors and repeated female donors. In these identified subgroups, prevalence of ID was up to 72·1%. Conclusions Our study showed the high prevalence of ID among French WB donors, identified well‐known and new factors associated with ID and defined algorithms predicting ID in three populations.

Impact of donor ferritin testing on iron deficiency prevention and blood availability in France: A cohort simulation study

“…ID in French WB donors was investigated in the FERRIDON research study. The prevalence was estimated to be 39.5% for women and 18.0% for men [6]. Four subgroups of donors at high risk of ID were determined (Table 1).…”

Ferritin trajectories over repeated whole blood donations: results from the FIND+ study

“…more classes) [22] and logarithm of the Bayes factor (2*ΔBIC), where ΔBIC = BIC (complex) -BIC (less complex) [23]. Also, when the absolute value of the logarithm of the Bayes factor 2*ΔBIC would indicate trivial (0-2), positive (2-6), strong (6)(7)(8)(9)(10) or very strong (>10), this provides the level of evidence for the null hypothesis that the less complex model is the best fit. In the first step we assessed a single quadratic polynomial trajectory model.…”

“…Repeated measurements of ferritin levels over consecutive donations are generally lacking, as ferritin levels are only measured in cross-sectional studies or in policies with limited measurements; at every 5 th or 10 th donation [7,8]. The prevalence of iron deficiency in repeat donors, even in those with normal Hb levels, is remarkably high [8][9][10][11][12] . In addition, once donors have become iron-deficient, their risk of subsequent Hb deferral is over tenfold increased [13].…”

Iron Deficiency and Blood Donation: Links, Risks and Management

“…In these identified subgroups, the prevalence of iron deficiency was up to 72.1%. 18 Current practices by blood banks identify potential donors with IDA but are inadequate to detect IDWA. 19 This is particularly true for premenopausal women and teenagers.…”