Abstract

 Background and Objectives

  Iron deficiency is a common problem in blood donors and iron deficiency anemia is an important factor limiting the number of donation attempts in regular donors. Limited data is available on the iron status of Iranian donors. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the frequency of iron deficiency and the relevant factors in donors at Yazd Blood Transfusion Center.

  Materials and Methods 

  337 persons accepted for blood donation in 2003 were selected randomly. Hemoglobin, serum iron, transferrin saturation and ferritin levels were measured. Then, Chi-square, ANOVA, and Fisher exact test were used for data analysis.

 Results

  Results showed that the frequency of reduction in iron stores increased as the number of donations raised (p=0.0001). Reduction in iron stores happened among all regular female donors (100%) and 48% of regular male blood donors. The frequency of iron deficiency in these two groups was 78% in the former and 28% in the latter , while the frequency of iron deficiency anemia was 55.6% and 16% respectively. The frequency of iron deficiency raised in women who had donated only once (p<0.05), while it raised significantly only in male regular blood donors (p<0.05).

 Conclusions

  Increase in the number of donations in the absence of iron supplementation leads to iron deficiency anemia, thus resulting in loss of regular donors because of increased deferral rate.

  It is therefore recommended that blood donors be informed about iron deficiency and the use of iron supplementation for regular blood donors and women of childbearing age who donate a unit of blood.