Thalassemic patients in Misan,Iraq, 2024: A descriptive study

Abstract

Thalassemia is a genetics syndrome which lead to abnormal hemoglobin protein and this produce hemolysis, inefficient erythropoiesis, and moderate to severe anemia. Very few studies focus on the frequency of this disease. Therefore, the aims of current study is to determine features, and frequency of thalassemia patients at the thalassemia center in the Misan Governorate. In 2024, we performed a descriptive file-based study on 499 patients with thalassemia at the Thalassemia Center in Misan City. We reviewed the patient files and gathered the necessary data. After filling out a unique form with information about the patient's features from their medical records and from the patients or caregivers, data analysis was completed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS. The results showed that the majority of cases (78%), which were of the major type of B-thalassemia, were followed by intermediate cases (16%) and alpha-thalassemia (6%). Of these, 54% were female, and 48% were in the age range of 5-19 years. There were fewer cases in the age range of 0–4 years and older than 40 years. The study's findings also showed that 52% of patients lived in rural areas and 48% in urban areas. O had the highest blood group among the patients, followed by B, A, and AB. According to the study's findings, 64 patients had passed away, with both new and old cases accounting for 12% of all deaths. The kind of thalassemia, age group, and case outcome were statistically significantly correlated (p values were 0.006 and 0.0001, respectively). In conclusion, our research consider as the first a descriptive study at Misan province that sheds the light on B-thalassemia major. However, genetic study required next to stablish the database in Misan province.