Mahapatra Smita, Patra Kaushik, Marandi Manu Mangat, Acharya Sabyasachi
Department of Transfusion Medicine, S.C.B. Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, Odisha 753007 India.
Department of Transfusion Medicine, MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur, Odisha India.
Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus. 2025 Apr;41(2):370-376. doi: 10.1007/s12288-024-01837-4. Epub 2024 Sep 13.
COVID-19 pandemic led to a decline in voluntary blood donations posing a risk of under-transfusion. This study aimed to evaluate and analyze the root causes of challenges from patients' perspectives, helping blood centers achieve adequate blood supply during pandemics and catastrophes. The questionnaire included 15 questions, 10 of which were option-based. The first part collected demographic data and information on the type of blood component transfused. The second part evaluated the patient's thalassemia status, blood requirements, and how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted their needs. A response was considered valid if 80% of questions were answered. 280 thalassemia patients responded to the questionnaire receiving regular blood transfusions. During the pandemic, 217 patients needed transfusions less than once a month, 33 (12.5%) saw a decrease in transfusion frequency due to fears of infection, lack of transportation, and reduced needs. However, 7 (2.65%) saw an increase in transfusion frequency. The waiting time for blood also increased for 63.88% patients, by less than two hours for most. COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted thalassemia patients' routine activities, with only 12.5% of patients experiencing reduced transfusion visits due to fear of infection and limited transportation services. Blood donations decreased, but reduced elective surgeries helped balance out. Workforce shortages at blood centers and pandemic management diversions caused delays for some patients. Looking into the past catastrophe from the perspective of the sufferers, especially in thalassemia patients, will enable the policy makers to prepare an organogram to intercept any such future setback.
新冠疫情导致自愿无偿献血量下降，带来输血不足的风险。本研究旨在从患者角度评估和分析面临挑战的根本原因，帮助血液中心在疫情和灾难期间实现充足的血液供应。问卷包含15个问题，其中10个为选择题。第一部分收集人口统计学数据和所输注血液成分类型的信息。第二部分评估患者的地中海贫血状况、血液需求以及新冠疫情如何影响他们的需求。如果80%的问题得到回答，则该回复被视为有效。280名接受定期输血的地中海贫血患者对问卷做出了回应。在疫情期间，217名患者每月输血次数少于一次，33名（12.5%）患者因担心感染、交通不便和需求减少，输血频率降低。然而，7名（2.65%）患者输血频率增加。63.88%的患者等待血液的时间也增加了，大多数增加不到两小时。新冠疫情对地中海贫血患者的日常活动产生了重大影响，只有12.5%的患者因担心感染和交通服务受限而减少了输血次数。无偿献血量减少，但择期手术减少有助于平衡。血液中心的人员短缺和疫情管理转移导致一些患者等待时间延长。从患者尤其是地中海贫血患者的角度审视过去的灾难，将使政策制定者能够制定组织架构图，以应对未来任何此类挫折。
