Cancer Incidence and Mortality in a Cohort of US Blood Donors: A 20-Year Study

Blood donors are considered one of the healthiest populations. This study describes the epidemiology of cancer in a cohort of blood donors up to 20 years after blood donation. Records from donors who participated in the Retroviral Epidemiology Donor Study (REDS, 1991–2002) at Blood Centers of the Pacific (BCP), San Francisco, were linked to the California Cancer Registry (CCR, 1991–2010). Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were estimated using standard US 2000 population, and survival analysis used to compare all-cause mortality among donors and a random sample of nondonors with cancer from CCR. Of 55,158 eligible allogeneic blood donors followed-up for 863,902 person-years, 4,236 (7.7%) primary malignant cancers were diagnosed. SIR in donors was 1.59 (95% CI = 1.54,1.64). Donors had significantly lower mortality (adjusted HR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.66–0.74) compared with nondonor cancer patients, except for respiratory system cancers (adjusted HR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.82–1.05). Elevated cancer incidence among blood donors may reflect higher diagnosis rates due to health seeking behavior and cancer screening in donors. A “healthy donor effect” on mortality following cancer diagnosis was demonstrated. This population-based database and sample repository of blood donors with long-term monitoring of cancer incidence provides the opportunity for future analyses of genetic and other biomarkers of cancer

Blood donor satisfaction and intention of future donation.

BackgroundNew regulatory requirements for donor eligibility challenge blood centers to recruit and retain enough donors. This study evaluated correlations between overall satisfaction with the donation process and donor demographics and the effect of both on a donor's intent to return.Study design and methodsAn anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was given to donors at multiple sites of one blood center over a 3-week period. First-time and repeat donors were asked questions on demographic characteristics, satisfaction with the current donation process, motivation for current and future donations, and intent to return.ResultsMore than 75 percent of donors rated the overall donation process at 9 or 10 on a scale of 10 (mean, 9.19; standard deviation, 1.09), with female, high school-educated, and first-time donors giving higher satisfaction ratings than male, college-educated, and repeat donors, respectively (all p < 0.001). Donor satisfaction was correlated with intent to return for another donation (p = 0.002). For the current donation, donors rated altruistic motivations most highly. Medical testing was the most highly rated incentive for future donations, followed by frequent donor programs and convenient donation times and locations; preferences varied by demographic subgroup.ConclusionsBlood donor satisfaction varies among demographic and donation history subgroups and is positively correlated with the intent to return for future donation. Although the primary motivation among all donors was altruism, incentives to future donation may need to be tailored according to demographic subgroups

Blood donor satisfaction and intention of future donation.

BackgroundNew regulatory requirements for donor eligibility challenge blood centers to recruit and retain enough donors. This study evaluated correlations between overall satisfaction with the donation process and donor demographics and the effect of both on a donor's intent to return.Study design and methodsAn anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was given to donors at multiple sites of one blood center over a 3-week period. First-time and repeat donors were asked questions on demographic characteristics, satisfaction with the current donation process, motivation for current and future donations, and intent to return.ResultsMore than 75 percent of donors rated the overall donation process at 9 or 10 on a scale of 10 (mean, 9.19; standard deviation, 1.09), with female, high school-educated, and first-time donors giving higher satisfaction ratings than male, college-educated, and repeat donors, respectively (all p < 0.001). Donor satisfaction was correlated with intent to return for another donation (p = 0.002). For the current donation, donors rated altruistic motivations most highly. Medical testing was the most highly rated incentive for future donations, followed by frequent donor programs and convenient donation times and locations; preferences varied by demographic subgroup.ConclusionsBlood donor satisfaction varies among demographic and donation history subgroups and is positively correlated with the intent to return for future donation. Although the primary motivation among all donors was altruism, incentives to future donation may need to be tailored according to demographic subgroups

The consequences of temporary deferral on future whole blood donation.

BackgroundThe consequences of temporary deferral are not well understood. This study sought to investigate blood donor return after deferral expiration.Study design and methodsA retrospective cohort analysis of allogeneic whole-blood donation was conducted. All deferred donors and a random sample of eligible donors were identified from the year 2000, with subsequent blood center visits through December 2005 captured. Stratified results are reported as the percentage returning, rates of return, and time to return. Measures of statistical association and Cox regression modeling are reported.ResultsFor first-time (FT) donors, 25 percent of temporarily deferred donors returned during the 5-year follow-up period compared to 47 percent of eligible donors (p < 0.0001); for repeat donors, 81 and 86 percent of deferred and eligible donors returned, respectively (p < 0.0001). Depending on the deferral category, 14 to 31 percent of FT and 58 to 90 percent of repeat donors returned. Rates (per year) of successful donation during the follow-up period were 0.09 for index-deferred FT donors, 0.28 for eligible FT donors, 1.0 for deferred repeat donors, and 1.45 for eligible repeat donors. Multivariate modeling indicated that in addition to deferral, age, sex, race, and education were associated with return in both FT and repeat donors.ConclusionThe effects of deferral were more pronounced than expected, affecting both FT and repeat donors. For FT donors, the type and duration of deferral, while important, were not as relevant as hypothesized because so few returned, suggesting the need to develop appropriate interventions to recapture those donors likely to be eligible

The consequences of temporary deferral on future whole blood donation.

BackgroundThe consequences of temporary deferral are not well understood. This study sought to investigate blood donor return after deferral expiration.Study design and methodsA retrospective cohort analysis of allogeneic whole-blood donation was conducted. All deferred donors and a random sample of eligible donors were identified from the year 2000, with subsequent blood center visits through December 2005 captured. Stratified results are reported as the percentage returning, rates of return, and time to return. Measures of statistical association and Cox regression modeling are reported.ResultsFor first-time (FT) donors, 25 percent of temporarily deferred donors returned during the 5-year follow-up period compared to 47 percent of eligible donors (p < 0.0001); for repeat donors, 81 and 86 percent of deferred and eligible donors returned, respectively (p < 0.0001). Depending on the deferral category, 14 to 31 percent of FT and 58 to 90 percent of repeat donors returned. Rates (per year) of successful donation during the follow-up period were 0.09 for index-deferred FT donors, 0.28 for eligible FT donors, 1.0 for deferred repeat donors, and 1.45 for eligible repeat donors. Multivariate modeling indicated that in addition to deferral, age, sex, race, and education were associated with return in both FT and repeat donors.ConclusionThe effects of deferral were more pronounced than expected, affecting both FT and repeat donors. For FT donors, the type and duration of deferral, while important, were not as relevant as hypothesized because so few returned, suggesting the need to develop appropriate interventions to recapture those donors likely to be eligible

Genetic research in the blood bank: acceptability to Northern California donors.

BackgroundBlood banks have large altruistic donor populations and existing infrastructure that make them attractive sites for genetic epidemiologic research, but donors' willingness to participate and the impact on blood donation are unknown.Study design and methodsA total of 2162 blood donors in Northern California responded to a cross-sectional questionnaire in August and September 2007. Participants were asked their likelihood of participation and future blood donation under three different scenarios: identity-linked genetic research, identity-unlinked genetic research, and genetic testing as a service.ResultsThe majority of blood donors indicated that they would be likely or very likely to participate in identity-linked genetic research (67%) and in identity-unlinked genetic research (54%). While older donors and more frequent donors were more likely to participate in identity-linked research, younger, Caucasian, more educated, and more frequent donors were more likely to participate in identity-unlinked research. Less than 10% of donors indicated they would be less likely to donate blood in the future if genetic research was conducted at blood banks. More than 75% of donors would be interested in genetic testing as an optional service at the blood bank, but more than 20% of donors would be less likely to donate if such a service was offered.ConclusionOverall, we found that the majority of blood donors would be likely to participate in genetic research and that less than 10% would be less inclined to donate if such research was conducted by blood banks

Genetic research in the blood bank: acceptability to Northern California donors.

BackgroundBlood banks have large altruistic donor populations and existing infrastructure that make them attractive sites for genetic epidemiologic research, but donors' willingness to participate and the impact on blood donation are unknown.Study design and methodsA total of 2162 blood donors in Northern California responded to a cross-sectional questionnaire in August and September 2007. Participants were asked their likelihood of participation and future blood donation under three different scenarios: identity-linked genetic research, identity-unlinked genetic research, and genetic testing as a service.ResultsThe majority of blood donors indicated that they would be likely or very likely to participate in identity-linked genetic research (67%) and in identity-unlinked genetic research (54%). While older donors and more frequent donors were more likely to participate in identity-linked research, younger, Caucasian, more educated, and more frequent donors were more likely to participate in identity-unlinked research. Less than 10% of donors indicated they would be less likely to donate blood in the future if genetic research was conducted at blood banks. More than 75% of donors would be interested in genetic testing as an optional service at the blood bank, but more than 20% of donors would be less likely to donate if such a service was offered.ConclusionOverall, we found that the majority of blood donors would be likely to participate in genetic research and that less than 10% would be less inclined to donate if such research was conducted by blood banks

Quantifying losses to the donated blood supply due to donor deferral and miscollection.

BackgroundDonors are deferred for multiple reasons. Losses related to disease marker rates are well established. Donor and donation losses for other reasons, however, have not been extensively quantified.Study design and methodsTo quantify these losses, three data sets from the Blood Centers of the Pacific were combined, permitting detailed analysis of year 2000 allogeneic whole-blood donations.ResultsDuring 2000, 13.6 percent of 116,165 persons who presented for donation were deferred at presentation. Short-term deferral accounted for 68.5 percent (hematocrit was most common at 60%); long-term deferral accounted for 21 percent (travel to a malarial area and tattoo or other nonintravenous drug use needle exposure were most common at 59 and 29%, respectively); and multiple-year or permanent deferral accounted for 10.5 percent (UK travel [variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease] risk and emigration from a malarial area were most common at 38 and 11%, respectively). Disease-marker-reactive donations represented 0.9 percent of donor outcomes. The prevalence of deferral and also miscollection (under- and overweight units) varied by age, sex, and first-time versus repeat donor status. Overall, miscollection led to a loss of 3.8 percent of 100,141 collections, ranging from 1.9 percent in repeat male donors 40 to 54 years of age to 10.7 percent in first-time female donors 16 to 24 years of age.ConclusionLoss of units from both first-time and repeat donors due to temporary deferral and loss of units from miscollection are more common events than losses due to disease marker testing. Some of these losses may be avoidable and could increase the blood supply without having to recruit new donors