Demographic and Laboratory Characteristics of β-Thalassemia Major Patients in Zahedan, Southeast of Iran

Abstract Background: Β-thalassemia is known as the most common inherited form of anemia worldwide and Iran. Considering high birth rate in the province, it seem necessary to study demographic factors and to assess common laboratory tests in order to find out whether  patients receive adequate care or not. Materials and Methods:  A cross–sectional descriptive analytical study was conducted on 603 patients aged 1-46 years who had been referred to thalassemia clinic at Ali Asghar Hospital in Zahedan in 2014. Overall mean transfusion interval was 23.4 days with 22.8 days for males and 24.1 days for females. Demographic and laboratory data of the patients were gathered through interviews and the patients’ records. Results: Out of 603 patients, 323 (54.3%) were male and 280 (45.7%) were female. In total, 77.2% were Balouch, 18.3% Sistani, 3.1% Afghani, and the rest belonged to other ethnic groups. Consanguinity was seen in 57.8% (close relatives) and 19.7% (distant relatives) of cases. Mean number of their offspring was 4.7 and mean number of β-thalassemia children was 1.5 for each family. The mean hemoglobin level before the last three blood transfusions was 9.5 g/dl, and mean ferritin level according to the last three examinations was 3801.9ng/ml. The highest frequency of blood group belonged to “O” (38.4%). In the population studied, the mean volume of transfused blood was 468.5 mL per injection. Regarding used blood products, 93% of the patients received packed cells and 7% washed cells. Conclusions: In spite of different training programs implementation, the quality of the evaluated indices in this province was lower compared to other regions that can be attributed to high rate of thalassemia incidence. Therefore, regular consultation programs in media seem necessary considering the local culture and language especially through influential local people.