From the Guidelines
Potential Causes of Mortality Following Blood Donation
Potential causes of death after blood donation are rare, but may include severe hypovolemic shock, cardiac arrest, or anaphylactic reactions 1. In some cases, donors may experience vasovagal syncope, which can lead to fatal outcomes if not promptly treated. Additionally, donors with pre-existing medical conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, may be at increased risk of complications, including those related to the use of medications like antihypertensives, such as metoprolol, or antiplatelet agents, such as aspirin, which may be continued at standard doses, typically 25-100mg daily, without interruption prior to donation.
- Life-threatening transfusion reactions, defined as reactions requiring major medical intervention, occurred in 1:139 908 transfusions or 7.1 per million transfusions 1.
- Fatal hemolysis was estimated to range from 1.3 to 1.7 per million (5.9 to 7.7 per 10 million) transfused RBC units in one report 1.
- Death from medical error as reported by the Institute of Medicine was 1.3 to 2.9 per 1000 hospital admissions 1.
- Other risks, such as motor vehicle accidents, firearm homicide, fatal falls, and lightning fatalities, are also relevant when considering the overall risk of mortality following blood donation 1.
It is essential to note that these risks are relatively rare and that blood donation is a safe procedure when performed under proper medical supervision. However, it is crucial to be aware of these potential causes of mortality to ensure the safety of blood donors and recipients.
From the Research
Potential Causes of Mortality Following Blood Donation
The potential causes of mortality following blood donation are not explicitly stated in the provided studies. However, some studies mention adverse events that may occur after blood donation, such as:
- Vasovagal reactions, which can lead to fainting or syncope 2
- Arterial punctures, which can cause bleeding or hematoma 2, 3
- Nerve injuries, which can result in pain or numbness 2
- Cardiac or vascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction 4
- Accidents or external causes of injury 4
Adverse Events Associated with Blood Donation
Some studies investigated the risk factors for adverse events after blood donation, including:
- Age, with donors under 35 years old being at higher risk 5
- Gender, with female donors being at higher risk 5
- Donation status, with first-time donors being at higher risk 5
- Donation volume, with donations of 500 mL being associated with increased risk 5
- Pre-donation blood pressure, with lower systolic blood pressure being associated with increased risk 5
- Body mass index (BMI), with lower BMI being associated with increased risk 5
Rare but Serious Complications
Some studies reported rare but serious complications, such as: