Few studies have examined the effects on whole blood (WB) donations on cardiovascular health. Researchers associated with the Australian Red Cross hypothesized that frequent WB donations might be protective for cardiovascular disease since pre-menopausal women have a lower risk of heart disease than men or post-menopausal women. In order to test this hypothesis, researchers examined data from Australian national databases and the Sax Institute’s 45 and Up Study. Data from 2736 males (mean age, 57.5 years) and 2917 females (mean age, 56.5 years) who donated at least one WB unit within the first and last year of a “5 year qualification period” were analyzed. Data were stratified by sex and potential confounder variables, including demographic, health-related, and lifestyle factors. Overall, 6.6% of male and 2.7% of female donors were hospitalized for cardiovascular disease over a median follow-up period of 5.84 years. The hazard ratio for cardiovascular disease for male and female WB donors enrolled in the study was 0.93 (95% C.I., 0.68 to 1.29) and 0.79 (95% C.I., 0.49 to 1.28), respectively, compared to other blood donors. This study did not find a significant reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease in frequent blood donors but further research into long-term donor health is needed.
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