Blood donors in England and North Wales: demography and patterns of donation

• Published in: Transfusion (Philadelphia, Pa.) Pa.), 2015-01, Vol.55 (1), p.91-99
• Main Authors: Lattimore, Samuel, Wickenden, Crispin, Brailsford, Susan R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Blood & organ donations; Blood Donors - statistics & numerical data; England; Ethnic Groups - statistics & numerical data; Ethnicity; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Population; Rural Population - statistics & numerical data; Sex Distribution; Urban Population - statistics & numerical data; Wales; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0041-1132; 1537-2995
• DOI: 10.1111/trf.12835

Background As populations in the developed world shift toward an older and more ethnically diverse population, the challenges of recruiting and retaining sufficient donors to secure an adequate, safe supply of blood in the future will increase. Study Design and Methods The study population included all first‐time (n = 348,740) and repeat (n = 1,805,255) blood donors and their donations (n = 3,854,460) received by NHS Blood and Transplant during 2010 and 2011. Rates of new and repeat donors per 1000 population were estimated using Office for National Statistics 2011 population estimates. Factors associated with new blood donors returning within 6 months were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Results The majority (87.9%) of donors were white British; 5.5% were unknown; 3.4% white Irish or white other; and 3.2% composed of all other ethnic groups. The median ages of new and repeat donors in 2010 were 28.0 and 45.0 years, respectively, compared to 29.0 and 47.0 years in 2011. Rates of donation varied by ethnicity, ranging from 1.59 per 1000 among Asian Bangladeshi origin, compared to 22.1 per 1000 among white British origin. Approximately two in five (38.4%) new blood donors returned within 6 months and were more likely to be male and of white ethnicity. Conclusions Blood supply is impacted by numerous factors, including an aging population and an increasing population of migrant communities with lower donation rates. It is therefore critical that changes within the blood donor and wider population are monitored to inform donor recruitment and retention strategies.