EFFECTS OF BLOOD DONATION ON THE PHYSICAL-FITNESS AND HEMORHEOLOGY OFHEALTHY ELDERLY DONORS

Background: International regulations for blood donation recommend a m aximum donor age of 65 years. As the average population age is steadil y rising in western societies, a considerable group of volunteers is l ost to the donor base. Study Design and Methods: In a prospective stud y we investigated the effect of a 450-ml whole blood donation on the p hysical fitness and hemorheology of regular elderly allogeneic blood d onors (n = 24, aged 63-69 years, mean = 65). Results were compared wit h a younger group of regular donors (n = 23, aged 55-62 years, mean = 58) and a group of elderly subjects (n = 7, aged 63-66 years, mean = 6 5), who did not donate blood for this study. Assessing the physical fi tness, we determined the submaximal physical working capacity at a hea rt rate of 130 min(-1) (PWC 130) and the maximal working capacity (MWC ) by treadmill exercise testing the day before (day -1) and after dona tion (day +1). The impact of the blood loss on hemorheology was examin ed by analyzing the plasma viscosity before, during and after donation . Results: We found an increase of mean values of PWC 130 and MWC on d ay +1 in all study groups, but increases were only significant in the younger group (PWC 130 p = 0.03; MWC p = 0.04). Values did not differ significantly between the three groups. Plasma viscosity decreased sig nificantly directly after donation in both groups of donors. Conclusio n: A single blood donation did not alter the physical fitness of other wise healthy elderly people. The older blood donors and the younger co ntrols showed a similar compensation mechanism to blood loss. We found no general reason for disqualifying blood donors aged 65 years from d onating.