P-45 Adverse reaction among blood donors in Guyana

Methods:  We conducted a study to determine the risk factors associated with adverse reactions from January to October 2023 among donors who met specific inclusion criteria. Donations were sourced from multiple locations, and data – collected  through interviews and clinical examinations – were documented on a Donor Criteria Processing Form. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata 11.2. Risk factors for adverse events were identified using multivariate logistic regression. Ethical considerations and procedures were duly respected.

Results:  Of 9,041 blood donations examined, 64.1% were male and 35% were female, with an average age (± SD) of 36.42 ± 0.12 years; 31.1% were first time donors. The overall risk of adverse reactions was 0.65% (59/9,041). The most common types of adverse reactions were dizziness (0.30%), nausea (0.23%), and sweating (0.22%). After stepwise multivariable selection, we identified the following risk factors: Being female (AOR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.05-2.95; p-value =0.032), absence of air conditioning (AOR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.70-4.79; p-value <0.001), increased risk, while risk was reduced with increasing age (AOR, 0.96;95% CI, 0.93-0.98; p-value =0.001).

Conclusion:  There is a significant relationship between some environmental and sociodemographic factors and the occurrence of adverse reactions during blood donations. During blood donations, adverse reactions are twice as likely to occur among females (as compared to males) and three times more likely to occur in the absence of air conditioning. Additionally, adverse reactions are less likely to occur with increasing age.