Effects of Whole Blood Donation on Physiological Responses and Physical Performance at Altitude

The impact of single-unit blood donation (BD) on donor physical performance at sea level is well-studied. However, no studies have evaluated the impacts of BD on warfighter performance at higher elevations. This study evaluated the effects of BD on high-altitude combat-load carry performance in acclimatized military personnel following BD. Thirteen acclimatized military personnel (age: mean 28 [SD 6] years; height mean 175 [SD 7] cm; weight: mean 78.4 [SD 9.1] kg; residence elevation 2,100m) completed two 3.2-km rucksack carries (mean 24.2 [SD 2.1] kg from 2800 to 3,050m, one without BD (control) and one after BD. Total ruck march time, heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation (SpO2), respiratory rate (RR), minute ventilation (VE), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), thermal sensation (TS), and acute mountain sickness (AMS) symptoms were analyzed. There were no differences between control and BD for ruck march time (F(1,11)=2.13, P>.1, η2G=.03), HR (P>.1), RR (P>.1), VE (P>.1), RPE (P>.1), and TS (P>.07). AMS symptoms were not impacted by either condition. SpO2 was lower in the control scenario than after BD (b=-4.23 [SE 2.4], P=.007). A single-unit whole blood donation does not impact donor physical performance in acclimatized participants during combat-load carries at elevations up to 3,050m except with respect to SpO2.