ABO and RhD blood group distributions in Gansu Province, China: A retrospective study based on donor and patient data

The distribution of ABO and Rhesus D (RhD) blood groups is crucial for ensuring the safety of blood transfusions and for optimal blood donation planning. Gansu Province in Northwest China is characterized by remarkable ethnic diversity, which may contribute to a unique blood group distribution pattern in this region. This study investigates blood group distribution in Gansu Province, China, and considers the implications for the balance between blood supply and demand. Data from 71,363 blood donors (2014-2023) and 188,827 patients (2018-2023) were extracted from the hospital information management system. The chi-square test was used to compare blood group distributions between the 2 populations, and linear regression was performed to evaluate temporal trends in donation volumes. All analyses and graphing were performed using GraphPad Prism 5. The overall distribution of ABO and RhD blood groups differed significantly between donors and patients (P < .001). The prevalence of O (RhD+) was significantly lower in patients than in donors (30.54% vs 32.22%, P < .001), while the proportions of A (RhD+) and B (RhD+) were significantly higher in patients (A: 28.46% vs 27.66%, P < .001; B: 30.83% vs 30.02%, P = .001). For RhD-negative individuals, the proportion of AB (RhD-) in patients (0.06%) was double that in donors (0.03%, P = .016). Linear regression analysis confirmed a significant downward trend in donation volumes from 2018 to 2023 (β = -581.0 units/yr, 95% confidence interval: -1060 to -102, R2 = 0.76, P = .018). Total red blood cells demand consistently exceeded supply. And the supply-demand gap was further widened by discrepancies in the blood type distribution between donors and patients. This study reveals significant differences in ABO/RhD distributions between donors and patients in Gansu Province. The supply-demand imbalance is driven primarily by insufficient total donations and is further aggravated by blood type mismatches between donors and patients.