Abstract
C.M. Abe: Grant Recipient; Self; Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc.. S. Eason: None. F. Compton: None. M. Sayers: None. A. Khera: Grant Recipient; Self; NIH. Z. Ahmad: Research Investigator; Self; Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc.. Background: Severe hypertriglyceridemia (triglyceride level above 500 mg/dL) affects approximately 2% of Americans. However, many individuals remain unaware of their triglyceride level until they suffer an acute attack of hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis. Population level screening for triglycerides may identify such at-risk individuals, but thus far few – if any - efforts have been implemented anywhere in the world. One opportunity for population level screening is among blood donors, however triglyceride levels have never been systematically measured in this population. Objective. Demonstrate the feasibility of measuring non-fasting triglyceride level screening in blood donors. Methods: We prospectively measured triglyceride levels among volunteer blood donors at Carter BloodCare North Texas from December 2023 to January 2024. Routine demographic data (age, gender, ethnicity, BMI) were collected via self-report. Triglyceride assay (Beckman Coulter, California, USA) results were interpreted as <150 normal, 150-199 borderline, 200-499 high, >=500 severe hypertriglyceridemia. For donors found to have non-fasting severe hypertriglyceridemia, a donor notification letter was mailed with results and advising to seek additional care. Results reported as median (IQR) unless otherwise specified. Results: 9034 samples had triglyceride level measured once [35.2% female; 71.9% White; age 53 years (42-62), BMI 29.4 (26-33)]. Additionally, 66 individuals donated multiple times [first triglyceride 161 (107-207), % change in triglyceride 31.8% (16.1-47.2)]. Overall, 2.4% (217/9034) had severe hypertriglyceridemia [triglyceride 580 mg/dL (541-694); age 52 years (44-59), BMI 30.8 (28-35); 69.6% White]; 30.4% had high triglycerides [triglyceride 265 (227-325), age 53 years (43-61), BMI 30.6 (27.5-34.2), 72.3% White]; 18.7% borderline triglycerides [triglyceride 172 (160-184), age 54 years (44-62), BMI 30.1 (27-33.9), 72.4% White]; and 48.4% had normal triglycerides [triglyceride 102 (79-125), age 52 years (40-62), BMI 28.1 (25-32), 71.5% White]. Those with severe hypertriglyceridemia were more likely to be male (normal vs severe hypertriglyceridemia 46.0% vs 76.6% male, p < 0.001), had a higher BMI (Z=8.3, p < 0.001). They were similar in age (Z=0.271, p=0.786). Conclusions: Our pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of screening for severe hypertriglyceridemia among blood donors. We found a 2.4% prevalence of severe hypertriglyceridemia, similar to the population estimate of severe hypertriglyceridemia in the US. Future efforts will explore donors’ understanding of triglycerides, identification of risk factors for hypertriglyceridemia, and a pathway for their care. Triglyceride screening and donor notification provides opportunity for education and linkage to medical care to prevent complications such as pancreatitis. Sunday, June 2, 2024