COVID-19-related challenges in blood donation in the United Arab Emirates

Background: Blood donation was among the most severely disrupted service during the COVID-19 pandemic, and different measures were taken nationally and internationally to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on donation services. Aim: To compare blood donation before, during and after the pandemic and the effectiveness of efforts to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on donation services. Methods: This retrospective, observational, population-based study assessed the number and locations of blood donations, number of blood and platelet units issued to hospitals, and characteristics of 82 619 blood donors at the reference blood donation facility in United Arab Emirates in 2019 and 2020. Service recovery was assessed by comparing blood donation in 2021 and 2022 with 2019. The data were analysed using SPSS version 26 and the extent of the effect of COVID-19 on the measured parameters was tested using Pearson's chi 2 test. P <= 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: COVID-19 significantly affected the number of donors, location of blood donations, and quantities of blood and platelets issued to hospitals. Median annual number of donors was 19 121 males and 1393 females. In 2020, male donors increased by 1.6%, while female donors decreased by 22.3%. The number of donors decrease to 18 977 in 2020 from 19 035 in 2019 and increased to 22 542 in 2021 and 22 065 in 2022. Whole blood collections decreased by 0.3% in 2020 and increased by 18.0% in 2021 and 13.6% in 2022. Conclusion: Proactive measures, good infrastructure, flexibility, emergency planning, community awareness, good communication between stakeholders, and close coordination among national authorities are needed to effectively manage blood donation centres during crisis.