Poor iron store recovery in voluntary blood donors in the northern zone of Ghana; a five-month three-centre cohort study

Abstract

Objective: In Ghana, although iron deficiency is endemic, post blood donation iron supplementation is not routine. We sought to determine whether at five months post-donation of a single unit of whole blood, donors were able to recover iron stores.

Materials and methods: This three-centre cohort study recruited 164 blood donors at the Lawra, Nandom, and Bimbila communities in the northern zone of Ghana. Venous blood samples were drawn at baseline to estimate full blood count (FBC), haemoglobin variants, qualitative G6PD status, and serum ferritin. Five months post-donation, venous blood samples were drawn for a repeat measurement of FBC and serum ferritin. Data were analysed using SPSS and GraphPad prism to assess recovery of iron stores.

Results: Whereas 26.8 % had inherited haemoglobin variants, 18.9 % of the donors had qualitative G6PD deficiency. Overall, mean difference between pre-donation and five months post donation iron stores significantly differed from zero (p < 0.001; one sample t-test). After five months post donation, 76.8 % of the blood donors could not achieve pre-donation iron stores. Whereas 6.1 % and 8.5 % blood donors had depleted iron stores and iron deficient erythropoiesis at baseline, these increased to 9.8 % and 21.3 % respectively at five-month post donation. Moreover, at five months post donation, 11 % of these blood donors would have been disqualified per haemoglobin screening cut off of 12.5 g/dl.

Conclusion: Reliance on food intake to replenish iron store lost per blood donation may not adequately assure donor health in the study area; iron supplementation should be considered.

Keywords: Blood donation; Blood donors; Iron deficient erythropoiesis; Serum ferritin.