New Zealand Blood Donors' Health Study - NZBDHS

Aims

The primary aim of this study is to identify risk and protective factors for a range of injury outcomes, including motor vehicle-related injuries. However, the study should also provide information about risk and protective factors for a range of chronic disease outcomes.

Methods

Baseline information has been obtained from over 22,000 individuals aged 16-60 years at the time they provided a voluntary blood sample at one of several static or mobile New Zealand Blood Service sites, situated in the northern half of the North Island of New Zealand. Information collected from study participants will be linked prospectively to information routinely collected by the New Zealand Health Information Service on all deaths and hospitalisations.

Status/Results

Recruitment and baseline data collection were completed in the latter half of 1999. A paper describing the study methods and the characteristics of the participants was published in early 2002.

The initial analyses have demonstrated substantial heterogeneity of risk factors within the study population, suggesting that the study has the potential to provide important new information once outcome data become available.

From the baseline cross-sectional data we have been able to publish a paper evaluating the relationship between shift work, sleep disorders and work injury and we are currently examining the association found between sleep disorders, high blood pressure and obesity. Further analyses of the cross-sectional data are planned.

Publications:

  • Ameratunga S, Norton RN, MacMahon SW, Smith GS, Jackson RT, Currie R, Langley JD, Sharpe SS, Cheng A, Woodfield DG. A prospective cohort study of blood donors: methodological issues in the investigation of injuries and chronic diseases. Aust NZ J Public Health 1998;22:578-82.
  • Ameratunga S, Norton R, Whitlock G, MacMahon S, Coggan C, Jackson RT, et al. The New Zealand Blood Donors’ Health Study (NZBDHS): baseline findings of a large prospective cohort study of injury. Inj Prev 2002;8:66-9.
  • Blows S, Ameratunga S, Ivers RQ, Lo SK, Norton R. Risky driving habits and motor vehicle driver injury. Accident Analysis & Prevention 2005; 37: 619-624.
  • Fransen M, Wilsmore B, Winstanley J, Woodward M, Grunstein R, Ameratunga S, Norton R. Shift work and work injury in the New Zealand Blood Donors' Health Study. Occup Environ Med. 2006;63:352-8.

Institute Investigators:

Collaboration:

Funding Agencies: