Prevention of vasovagal response by applied muscle tension at different time points during blood donation

Abstract

Objective To explore the role and value of applied muscle tension (AMT) in preventing vasovagal nerve reaction (VVR) in blood donors. Methods A total of 2 992 people, susceptible to suffer VVR from May 2020 to may 2022, were randomly divided into control group (1406 cases) and observation group (1 586 cases). The control group was not given AMT intervention, while the observation group received AMT intervention at different periods during blood donation. The changes of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and psychological state of anxiety (self-rating anxiety scale, SAS) of blood donors were monitored in the two groups at each period to compare the occurrence of VVR. Results There were no statistically significant differences in blood pressure and heart rate between the two groups before blood donation (P>0.05). The parameters were relatively stable in observation group during and after donation, but significantly different from that of the controls(P>0.05). SAS score was similar in two groups before blood donation(P>0.05), while decreased in observation group during and after donation in comparison with the controls(P<0.05). The incidence of VVR in the observation group was 3.09%, which was significantly lower than that in the control group (7.97%)(P<0.05). The incidence of VVR was 2.18% after AMT exercise during blood donation. Conclusion AMT intervention in different periods of blood donation can significantly reduce the occurrence of VVR.

Keywords

• applied muscle tension
• vasovagal reaction
• sas score
• vital signs