The BSD Health Study: a pilot study to examine the comparability of Bavarian blood donors with the Bavarian general population by a comparison with KORA S4

• Published in: Gesundheitswesen (Bundesverband der Ärzte des Öffentlichen Gesundheitsdienstes (Germany)) Vol. 71; no. 8-9; p. 481
• Main Authors: Müller, M, Ruf, E, Weinauer, F, Martin, S, Becker, C, Illig, T, Döring, A, Wichmann, H-E, Rapp, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Germany 01.08.2009
• Subjects: Blood Donors - statistics & numerical data; Educational Status; Female; Germany - epidemiology; Health Status; Humans; Life Style; Male; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Germany
• ISSN: 1439-4421
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1119368

The aim of this pilot study was to compare the health status of Bavarian blood donors to the general population in Bavaria (Southern Germany). Blood donors in Bavaria were evaluated with respect to socio-demographic characteristics, smoking status and selected diseases. The subset of blood donors from rural areas and aged 35-74 years (n=1 187), was compared to participants in the population-based survey KORA S4 living in rural areas near Augsburg (n=1 870). The comparison was based on logistic regression models adjusted for age and sex. Bavarian blood donors lived significantly more often in communities with less than 20 000 inhabitants (OR=4.73, KI: 3.69-6.13). They were more often born in Germany (OR=2.71, KI: 2.12-3.50) and had less university degrees (OR=0.60, KI: 0.44-0.81). Never smoking is more common in blood donors (OR=1.53, 95% KI: (1.30; 1.80)). The prevalence of asthma, myocardial infarction (HI) and cancer (men only) is significantly lower in blood donors compared to the general population both living in rural areas (OR (Asthma)=0.32, 95% KI: (0.20; 0.52); OR (HI)=0.17, 95% KI: (0.08; 0.34)). The initially significantly lower number of cancer cases in male blood donors disappeared after adjustment for smoking status and community size. No difference was detected for type 2 diabetes. With the exception of type 2 dia-betes, the prevalence of the investigated diseases was lower in blood donors than in the general population. Differences can probably be explained by lifestyle factors as there might be a selection of healthier and more health-conscious blood donors. In the literature, a reduced risk of MI is discussed to be related to the frequency of blood donation. However, these questions need further research.