The healthy donor effect and survey participation, becoming a donor and donor career

Thorsten Brodersen*, Klaus Rostgaard, Cathrine Juel Lau, Knud Juel, Christian Erikstrup, Kasper Rene Nielsen, Sisse Rye Ostrowski, Kjell Titlestad, Susanne G. Sækmose, Ole B.V. Pedersen, Henrik Hjalgrim

*Corresponding author

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

Abstract

Background: The healthy donor effect (HDE) is a selection bias caused by the health criteria blood donors must meet. It obscures investigations of beneficial/adverse health effects of blood donation and complicates the generalizability of findings from blood donor cohorts. To further characterize the HDE we investigated how self-reported health and lifestyle are associated with becoming a blood donor, lapsing, and donation intensity. Furthermore, we examined differences in mortality based on donor status. Study Design and Methods: The Danish National Health Survey was linked to the Scandinavian Donations and Transfusions (SCANDAT) database and Danish register data. Logistic- and normal regression was used to compare baseline characteristics and participation. Poisson regression was used to investigate future donation choices. Donation intensity was explored by the Anderson-Gill model and Poisson regression. Mortality was investigated using Poisson regression. Results: Blood donors were more likely to participate in the surveys, OR = 2.45 95% confidence interval (2.40–2.49) than non-donors. Among survey participants, better self-reported health and healthier lifestyle were associated with being or becoming a blood donor, donor retention, and to some extent donation intensity, for example, current smoking conveyed lower likelihood of becoming a donor, OR = 0.70 (0.66–0.75). We observed lower mortality for donors and survey participants, respectively, compared with non-participating non-donors. Conclusion: We provide evidence that blood donation is associated with increased likelihood to participate in health surveys, possibly a manifestation of the HDE. Furthermore, becoming a blood donor, donor retention, and donation intensity was associated with better self-reported health and healthier lifestyles.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftTransfusion
Vol/bind63
Udgave nummer1
Sider (fra-til)143-155
Antal sider13
ISSN0041-1132
DOI
StatusUdgivet - jan. 2023

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
This study was supported by a grant from Helsefonden (grant‐number 21‐B‐0432 to HHJ).

Emneord

  • blood donors
  • donation behavior
  • donor health
  • healthy donor effect
  • survey participation

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