Management of blood supply and demand during the COVID-19 pandemic in King Abdullah Hospital, Bisha, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Maintaining blood supply is essential since blood transfusions are lifesaving in many conditions. The 2003 infectious outbreak of SARS-CoV had a negative impact on blood supply. This study aimed to measure donor attendance and blood demand in order to help find efficient ways of managing blood supply and demand during the COVID-19 pandemic and similar public emergencies in the future. Materials and methods: Data from donor attendance, mobile blood drives and blood inventory records were retrospectively obtained for the period between 1 September 2019 and 1 May 2020 to assess the impact of COVID-19 on donor attendance and the management of blood supply and demand in King Abdullah Hospital, Bisha, Saudi Arabia. Data were analysed using SPSSStatistics, version 25.0. Categorical variables were described using frequencies and percentages. Results: After imported cases of COVID-19 were reported in Saudi Arabia, donor attendance and blood supply at blood bank-based collections showed a drop of 39.5%. On the other hand, blood demand during the same period was reduced by 21.7%. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on donor attendance and blood supply and adversely affected blood transfusion services. Guidelines that prioritize blood transfusion should prepare at the beginning of emergencies similar to this pandemic. Close monitoring of blood needs and blood supply and appropriate response is essential for avoiding sudden blood shortage. An evidence-based emergency blood management plan and flexible regulatory policy should be ready to deal with any disaster and to respond quickly in the case of blood shortage.

Assessment of blood supply and usage pre- and during COVID-19 pandemic: A lesson from non-voluntary donation

“…However, this was with a concomitant 18.9% decrease in request. This value is lower than 39.5% reduction in donation and 21.7% reduction in request reported in Saudi Arabia [7] . There has been outcry of reduction in donor pool across the globe owing to the current pandemic [16] , [17] , [18] .…”

“…Nigeria confirmed its index case on February 27; a 44-year-old Italian who entered Nigeria on February 22 via Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos from Milan, Italy. [6] The pandemic has affected a good number of health services including blood donation [7] . Maintaining a steady stream of safe blood is very important as it plays vital role in medical and surgical procedures [8] .…”

“Because Every Drop Counts”: Blood donation during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…They noted a significant drop of 39.5% in blood bank-based collections. At the same time, they also noted a drop in blood demand by 21.7% [3]. Wang et al reported a similar experience from The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China [4].…”

“…This has contributed to a significant drop in the number of blood drives and storage inventory. The phenomenon of the drop in voluntary donation has been noted in many countries across the globe [3,4]. Yahia et al recently published their eight months (from September 2019 to May 2020) experience with blood supply and demand in King Abdullah Hospital, Bisha, Saudi Arabia.…”

Blood supply management during the Covid-19 pandemic: Experience in a tertiary referral hospital in Malaysia

“…Improvisation of a disaster and infectious disease outbreak response team led by a transfusion medicine specialist is important to promptly develop mitigation guidelines and policy [ 18 ]. Less common measures available in other countries such as blood collection at donor’s home, establishment of rare donors’ registry, loosening donor’s eligibility criteria, extended donation hours, sharing of blood inventories with neighboring hospitals, could be considered in time of blood supply crisis [ 13 , 19 ].…”