Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the frequency of donations and transfusions in a Peruvian blood bank

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic disrupted blood donation and transfusion services globally. In Peru, where the system relies heavily on replacement donors, this crisis exposed structural weaknesses and affected blood availability. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the frequency of blood donations and transfusions in a Peruvian blood bank. MethodsA retrospective analytical study was conducted based on the review of secondary databases from the blood bank. Monthly averages of blood donations and transfusions were compared between a prepandemic and a pandemic period. Differences were calculated and statistical significance was assessed. ResultsA total of 14 058 donation records and 21 747 transfusion records were analyzed. Total donations decreased by 44.15% with the greatest reduction observed among repeat donor (-56.43%). Voluntary donations increased by 13.79%, but remained below 5% of the total. Transfusions declined by 38.5%, with reductions observed across all blood components. Hospital transfusion requests also decreased (-40.11%), especially in the surgical area (- 59.22%). Inferential analysis showed statistically significant reductions in monthly donations (mean difference: 256.75; 95% CI: 167.46 to 346.04; p < 0.01) and monthly transfusions (mean difference: 324.85; 95% CI: 213.35 to 436.35; p < 0.01). ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of the Peruvian transfusion system, significantly reducing blood availability. Strengthening voluntary donor recruitment strategies, improving inventory management, and developing contingency plans are essential to ensure blood supply during future health crises.