PRISMA-based systematic review on iron stores in repeat blood donors

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Public Health
• Transfusion Medicine

Background:

• Repeat blood donation can deplete iron stores.
• The clinical significance of iron depletion in healthy donors is debated.
• Understanding prevalence and influencing factors is crucial for donor management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze the prevalence of iron depletion in repeat whole-blood donors.
• To explore factors associated with iron depletion prevalence.
• To inform risk stratification and screening strategies.

Main Methods:

• PRISMA-based systematic review and meta-analysis.
• Included 16 studies for qualitative synthesis and 15 for meta-analysis.
• Analyzed prevalence using serum ferritin measurements.

Main Results:

• Pooled prevalence of iron deficiency was 14.26% (95% CI: 12.50-16.23).
• Female donors exhibited a higher prevalence than male donors.
• Sex and serum ferritin cut-off values were significant determinants; donation frequency was not.

Conclusions:

• Iron depletion is prevalent among repeat blood donors, influenced by case definitions and donor characteristics.
• Serum ferritin testing aids risk stratification.
• Universal screening requires balancing feasibility, donor outcomes, and resource availability, especially in low-resource settings.