Unknown, so also unvalued? Blood donation awareness and attitudes of potential donors of Dutch and African descent.

Background And Objectives: Many Western countries face a shortage of African blood donors, while their specific blood groups are needed to transfuse chronic transfusion patients of similar ethnic background. Blood donation awareness and attitudes greatly impact the decision to become a blood donor, but how they are related and differ across ethnic groups is understudied. This study investigated blood donation awareness and attitudes of individuals of Dutch and African descent in the Netherlands.

Dietary intake of heme iron is associated with ferritin and hemoglobin levels in Dutch blood donors: results from Donor InSight.

Whole blood donors, especially frequently donating donors, have a risk of iron deficiency and low hemoglobin levels, which may affect their health and eligibility to donate. Lifestyle behaviors, such as dietary iron intake and physical activity, may influence iron stores and thereby hemoglobin levels. We aimed to investigate whether dietary iron intake and questionnaire-based moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were associated with hemoglobin levels, and whether ferritin levels mediated these associations.

Blood donation among individuals of African origin in the Netherlands: how are barriers and motivators associated with intention?

Background: Blood donors of African origin are under-represented in high-income Western countries, while their extended blood types closely match chronic transfusion patients with similar ancestral backgrounds. To prevent alloimunisation, it is important to recruit and retain more African blood donors. The aim of this study was to gain insight into blood donation barriers and motivators of individuals of African origin, and to assess how these are associated with the intention to donate blood.

Ferritin measurement IN Donors-Effectiveness of iron Monitoring to diminish iron deficiency and low haemoglobin in whole blood donors (FIND'EM): study protocol for a stepped wedge cluster randomised trial.

Background: Blood donors are at risk for reduced iron stores, because of which donor iron monitoring received increased attention in the last decade. Despite the importance for donor health, international consensus on an appropriate policy for iron monitoring is lacking. Therefore, we conduct a trial to evaluate to what extent ferritin-guided donation intervals are effective in increasing haemoglobin and ferritin levels, decreasing low-haemoglobin deferral, increasing donor return and improving the health of whole blood donors in the Netherlands.

Impact of risk-dependent interventions on low haemoglobin deferral rates in whole blood donors.

Background: Blood donors with a relatively low haemoglobin (Hb) level at their previous donation attempt have an increased risk of Hb deferral at the subsequent donation attempt. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the interventions prolongation of donation interval and/or a dietary advice decrease the Hb deferral rate.

Methods: 11 897 whole blood donors with Hb levels from below to 0·2 mmol/l above the cut-off level for donation received either no intervention, a prolongation of the donation interval to six or twelve months, a dietary advice, or both.

Lifestyle behaviours, ethnicity and menstruation have little added value in prediction models for low haemoglobin deferral in whole blood donors.

Objective: To investigate the added value of questionnaire-based predictors to existing prediction models for low haemoglobin (Hb) deferral in whole blood donors.

Background: Prediction models for Hb deferral risk can be applied in the invitation process of donors for a blood donation. Existing prediction models are based on routinely collected data.

Lifestyle behaviours are not associated with haemolysis: results from Donor InSight.

Background: Lifestyle behaviours such as physical activity, sedentary behaviour and dietary habits have been shown to influence blood lipid levels, and both lifestyle and blood lipids may be associated with haemolysis during storage of blood products. We aimed to investigate whether lifestyle behaviours are associated with degree of haemolysis in red cell concentrates (RCC), and if such associations are mediated by low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Materials And Methods: Cross-sectional analyses were performed in data from 760 Dutch blood donors participating in Donor InSight, an observational cohort study.

Associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms and erythrocyte parameters in humans: A systematic literature review.

Individual variations in erythrocyte parameters are influenced by factors like sex, age, diet and season. Genetic variations have also been associated with erythrocyte parameters. The aim of this systematic review is to provide an overview of associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and erythrocyte parameters in humans.

Cardiovascular risk in 159 934 frequent blood donors while addressing the healthy donor effect.

Objective: To investigate whether regular blood donation decreases cardiovascular risk.

Methods: All 159 934 Dutch whole-blood donors with an active donation career of at least 10 years were categorised into sex-specific donation tertiles based on the number of donations during this 10-year qualification period. Cardiovascular endpoints were based on hospital discharge diagnoses and death certificates from Dutch Hospital Data and Statistics Netherlands and occurring after the 10-year qualification period.

Determinants of blood donation willingness in the European Union: a cross-country perspective on perceived transfusion safety, concerns, and incentives.

Background: Willingness to donate blood depends on personal characteristics, beliefs, and motivations, but also on the cultural context. The aim of this study was to examine whether willingness to donate blood is associated with attitudes toward blood transfusion, personal motivators, and incentives and whether these factors vary across countries in the European Union (EU).

Study Design And Methods: The sample consisted of 27,868 participants, from 28 EU member states, who were interviewed about blood donation and transfusion-related issues for the 2014 round of the Eurobarometer, a country-comparative survey, collected on behalf of the European Commission.

Urban-rural differences in the association between blood lipids and characteristics of the built environment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: The built environment defines opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity and may thus be related to blood lipids. The aim of this study is to systematically analyse the scientific evidence on associations between built-environment characteristics and blood lipid levels in adults.

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science were searched for peer-reviewed papers on population-based studies up to 9 October 2017.

The association between population density and blood lipid levels in Dutch blood donors.

Background: In low and middle-income countries (LMIC), the total and LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels of residents of urban areas are reported to be higher than those of rural areas. This may be due to differences in lifestyle behaviors between residents of urban areas and rural areas in LMIC. In this study, our aims were to (1) examine whether or not LDL cholesterol, total/HDL ratios and triglyceride levels of individuals in densely populated areas are higher than those of individuals living in less-densely populated areas in a high-income country (HIC) and (2) investigate the potential mediating roles of physical activity and sedentary behavior.

The supply chain of migrant blood donors: an organisational interview study.

Background And Objectives: Migrant blood donors are underrepresented worldwide resulting in shortages of compatible blood products. Prior studies focused on individual barriers and motivators of potential blood donors, but no studies addressed organisational factors of the blood supply chain. This study explored the perceptions and experiences in recruitment and retention of migrant - and potentially rare-blood donors among staff members within the blood supply chain and identified obstacles and solutions in this chain.

Donor InSight: characteristics and representativeness of a Dutch cohort study on blood and plasma donors.

Background And Objectives: More insight into donor health and behaviour may contribute to more efficient and focused strategies regarding donor care and management. Donor InSight (DIS) is a Dutch cohort study of blood and plasma donors. We aimed to outline the objectives and methods of DIS, describe the cohort, and compare it to the active Dutch donor population.

Barriers and motivators of Ghanaian and African-Surinamese migrants to donate blood.

African migrants are underrepresented as blood donors in many Western countries, which can lead to shortages of specific blood types for transfusion. More insight in the reasons for this underrepresentation is required to improve blood donor recruitment and retention strategies. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore barriers and motivators for donating blood among migrants of African background.

A Conceptual Framework for Optimizing Blood Matching Strategies: Balancing Patient Complications Against Total Costs Incurred.

Alloimmunization is currently the most frequent adverse blood transfusion event. Whilst completely matched donor blood would nullify the alloimmunization risk, this is practically infeasible. Current matching strategies therefore aim at matching a limited number of blood groups only, and have evolved over time by systematically including matching strategies for those blood groups for which (serious) alloimmunization complications most frequently occurred.

Utility of zinc protoporphyrin in management of whole blood donors.

Background: Deferral for low hemoglobin (Hb) increases the likelihood that donors do not return for future donations. Zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) has been described as a sensitive marker of iron-deficient erythropoiesis, before Hb decreases. It is a relatively cheap, rapid, and easy-to-perform measurement in a drop of whole blood.

Organ Donation Registration and Decision-Making Among Current Blood Donors in the Netherlands.

Introduction: In the Netherlands, there is a constant shortage in donor organs, resulting in long waiting lists. The decision to register as organ donor is associated with several demographic, cultural, and personal factors. Previous research on attitudes and motivations toward blood and organ donations provided similar results.

Associations of health status with subsequent blood donor behavior-An alternative perspective on the Healthy Donor Effect from Donor InSight.

Introduction: In donor health research, the 'Healthy Donor Effect' (HDE) often biases study results and hampers their interpretation. This refers to the fact that donors are a selected 'healthier' subset of a population due to both donor selection procedures and self-selection. Donors with long versus short donor careers, or with high versus low donation intensities are often compared to avoid this HDE, but underlying health differences might also cause these differences in behaviour.

Individual, contextual and network characteristics of blood donors and non-donors: a systematic review of recent literature.

Background: The ageing population and recent migration flows may negatively affect the blood supply in the long term, increasing the importance of targeted recruitment and retention strategies to address donors. This review sought to identify individual, network and contextual characteristics related to blood donor status and behaviour, to systematically discuss differences between study results, and to identify possible factors to target in recruitment and retention efforts.

Methods: The systematic review was conducted in accordance with a predefined PROSPERO protocol (CRD42016039591).

Generalizability of Dutch Prediction Models for Low Hemoglobin Deferral: A Study on External Validation and Updating in Swiss Whole Blood Donors.

Background: Sex-specific prediction models for low hemoglobin (Hb) deferral have been developed in Dutch whole blood donors. In this study, we validated and updated the models in a cohort of Swiss whole blood donors.

Methods: Prospectively collected data from 53,772 Swiss whole blood donors were used.

Blood donors' physical characteristics are associated with pre- and post-donation symptoms - Donor InSight.

Background: Observational data suggest that some donors might benefit from donating while others may be harmed. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and potential, routinely measured, determinants of pre- and post-donation symptoms.

Materials And Methods: In Donor InSight, questionnaire data from 23,064 whole blood donors (53% female) were linked to routinely measured data on donors' physical characteristics (haemoglobin, blood pressure, body mass index and estimated blood volume) from the Dutch donor database.

Hemoglobin assessment: precision and practicability evaluated in the Netherlands-the HAPPEN study.

Background: Most donors do not like the invasive hemoglobin (Hb) measurement in fingerstick capillary samples. Alternative noninvasive devices have recently become available. In this study we assessed the precision and practicability of noninvasive devices and compared them with measurements in capillary and venous samples.

Height and Breast Cancer Risk: Evidence From Prospective Studies and Mendelian Randomization.

Background: Epidemiological studies have linked adult height with breast cancer risk in women. However, the magnitude of the association, particularly by subtypes of breast cancer, has not been established. Furthermore, the mechanisms of the association remain unclear.

Higher outdoor temperatures are progressively associated with lower blood pressure: a longitudinal study in 100,000 healthy individuals.

This study investigated the shape of associations between climate parameters (mean daily temperature and humidity) and systolic and diastolic blood pressure in a large longitudinal cohort of healthy individuals. The study population comprised 101,377 Dutch whole blood and plasma donors (50% men), who made 691,107 visits to the blood bank between 2007 and 2009. Climate parameters were acquired from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute.