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Preventive Medicine 2018
Journal of Preventive Medicine
ISSN: 2572-5483
Page 79
July 16-17, 2018
London, UK
9
th
Edition of International Conference on
Preventive Medicine
& Public Health
Background:
Globally, thalassemia is the most common
hereditary hemoglobinopathy, affecting equally males
and females and occurred in 4.4/10,000 live births. In the
developing world, the majority of patients die before the age
of 20 years. In Iraq, there is a little data on epidemiology and
burden of thalassemia. The objectives of this study were to
identify the epidemiological characteristics of thalassemia
patients in Iraq, estimate its incidence, prevalence, and identify
their trends during 2010-2015.
Methods:
A retrospective review of all patients’ records for
2010-2015 that retrieved through visiting the accessible 16 (of
the 19) thalassemia centers in Iraq. Corresponding population
data of Iraq provinces obtained from Ministry of Planning. We
calculated annual incidence and prevalence for all provinces.
Results:
Thalassemia
represented
75%
of
all
hemoglobinopathies in Iraq in 2015, with a prevalence of
36/100,000 population, and incidence of 34/100,000 livebirths.
The prevalence of thalassemia increased from 32/100,000
population in 2010 to 36/100,000 population in 2015, while
the incidence decreased from 63/100,000 livebirths in
2010 to 34/100,000 livebirths in 2015. β-thalassemia major
represented 67% of all types of thalassemia. The highest
prevalence of thalassemia was registered in Basra province
(74/100,000 population). Male, female ratio was 1.1:1. Most
of the patients were in the age group 6–15 years (42%) and
only 9.5% aged ≥30 years. Around 75% of patients were of
consanguineous parents. Among 10,740 patients aged 6+
years (school age), 13% (1,401) did not attend schools. About
28% (3705) of all patients aged >18years; 18% (648) of them
were married, 8% (310) attended college, and 17% (628) were
employed.
Conclusion:
In spite of the decreasing incidence, hundreds
of new children with thalassemia are born every year. Health
education, carrier screening and premarital screening remain
the best preventive measures that can enhance health, social
and economic benefits.
kamalabdrazaq@yahoo.comEpidemiological profile of thalassemia-Iraq, 2015
Kamal A Kadhim, Kadhim H Baldawi
and
Faris Lami
University of Baghdad, Iraq
J Prev Med 2018, Volume 3
DOI: 10.21767/2572-5483-C1-003