Significantly Lower Serum Ferritin in Apheresis Platelet Donors Compared to Whole Blood Donors

Iron deficiency is a recognized risk for frequent blood donors, particularly for platelet apheresis donors due to their increased donation frequency. This retrospective study examines ferritin levels in 31,661 blood donors, encompassing whole blood (n=26,129) and platelet apheresis (n=5,532) donors from 2018 to 2021. It aims to understand the impact of donation type, age, and sex on iron depletion, emphasizing the unique needs of platelet donors.

We analyzed data from a centralized blood donation database, stratifying donors by age, sex, and donation type. Ferritin levels, measured using a chemiluminescent immunoassay, served as a marker of iron stores. Statistical analyses included t-tests and ANOVA to compare ferritin levels across donation types and demographics, with a significance threshold of p <0.05.

Platelet donors showed consistently lower mean ferritin levels than whole blood donors, with significant differences observed in males and older female donors across most age groups. This trend suggests cumulative iron depletion in platelet donors due to frequent donation, with marked sex and age-based variations in iron reserves.

This study highlights that platelet donors are at a considerable risk of iron depletion, with lower ferritin levels observed across most age and sex categories compared to whole blood donors. Despite the known risks associated with frequent apheresis, interventions have primarily focused on whole blood donors, leaving platelet donors without targeted strategies to mitigate iron deficiency. Our findings underscore the need for targeted interventions for platelet donors.