Work

Impact of Blood Donation Frequency on the Prevalence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Donors

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Regular blood donation has been associated with lower cardiovascular risk in some studies, possibly through mechanisms involving reduced iron stores and oxidative stress. OBJECTIVE: The study investigated the association between blood donation frequency and cardiovascular risk factors among voluntary blood donors. METHODS: The cross-sectional study examined blood donors classified into regular donors and occasional donors. Blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose, and total cholesterol levels were measured. Standard clinical criteria were used to determine the cardiovascular risk factors. Independent t-tests and chi-square tests were analyzed to compare the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression was applied to control for possible confounding variables. RESULTS: compared to donors who donated occasionally. Regular donors showed lower rates of hypertension, 22% compared to 39%, and elevated cholesterol, 21% compared to 35%, with a statistical significance of p = 0.04. The study found no differences between the groups regarding their fasting glucose levels or diabetes rates. Regular donors had lower odds of hypertension (OR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.30-0.89) and elevated cholesterol (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.33-0.95), while the association with overweight/obesity did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Regular blood donation was associated with more favorable cardiovascular risk profiles among donors in this study.

Source: Global Health

DOI: 10.1155/ghe3/6687660

Authors: Collince Odiwuor Ogolla, Bernard Guyah, Apollo O. Maima

Institution: Maseno University

Language: English

Topic: Blood donation and transfusion practices

Subfield: Hematology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,350