Background: Donor adverse reactions have always had a negative impact on Donor return rate. Many donors will not return to donate for 5 to 6 years if they have had an adverse vasovagal reaction while donating. They cause discomfort, anxiety, and embarrassment to the donors who develop the adverse reaction along with apprehension, anxiety, and fear among the donors who are looking for the donation.
Aims: To estimate the prevalence of immediate VVRs (vasovagal reactions) among blood donors in our hospital and to determine the factors associated with it.
Methods: A retrospective study conducted between January 2019 to December 2020,in blood centre of Vinayaka Missions hospital and a total of 4126 whole blood donors were analyzed. All donors were subjected to whole-blood phlebotomy for 350ml.
Results: Out of 4126 Whole blood donors, 66 VVR cases were reported (1.6%). Factors associated with high VVRs were young age group, female gender, first time donors and donation performed in a mobile donation campaign. The most common vasovagal symptoms are Nausea which accounts for 19.6% (13 cases) of the reaction. This is followed by dizziness (12 cases; 18.1%), discomfort (11 cases; 16.6%), sweating (9 cases; 13.6%), anxiety (7cases, 10.6%) , loss of consciousness <30 s (5 cases; 7.6%), weakness(4 cases; 6.1%),hypotension (3 cases ; 4.54%) and bradycardia (2 case, 3.3%).
Conclusion: This study reinforces the fact that donor retention could be improved by following certain friendly, reassuring practices and by ensuring strict pre-donation screening procedures. This can ultimately result in better retention of blood donors.