New Mathematical Model Shows Transfusions of Blood Substitutes Can Treat Anemic Patients, Solve Global Shortage
Published in Blood Substitutes.
Researchers from Stanford University and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) developed a new mathematical model of the body’s interacting physiological and biochemical processes that shows transfusion of blood substitutes could treat anemic patients and be more readily available, solving global blood shortage.
Global Blood Shortage
Blood transfusion is important because it saves lives and improves health. However, many patients that need blood transfusion do not have timely access to safe blood. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that providing safe and adequate blood should be a necessary part of a country’s national health care policy.
It can be done through blood collection, testing, storage, and distribution governed by national blood policy and legislative framework for uniform standards.
According to WHO, 40% of collected blood donations are from high-income countries wherein the median annual donation per blood center is 25,700 compared to the 1,300 in low-income countries, 4,400 in lower-middle-income countries, and 9,300 in upper-middle-income countries.
Moreover, 62 low- or middle-income countries report collecting fewer than 10 donations per 1,000 people. It shows a significant global blood shortage that needs to be solved.