Assessment of Awareness, Prevalence and Treatment Trends of Thalassemia in NGO Sector, Sialkot, Pakistan

Thalassemias are the heterogeneous group of genetic disorders affecting hemoglobin production. Purpose: Objective of this study is to access the awareness level among the parents of thalassemia patients, prevalence and treatment trends of thalassemia in NGO sector, Sialkot, Pakistan. Method: Study design was chosen to be cross-sectional prospective. Sample size for this study was taken as 70 patients. Study was carried out in Sundas Foundation in Sialkot, Pakistan. Well-structured data collection form or questionnaire was prepared, analyzed and then filled by interview. Result: Parents of patients were aware of question of iron overload (n=62; %=88.5). Highest prevalence was seen in males (n=42; %=60) rather than females (n=28; %=40). Majority of patients were suffering from thalassemia major (n=60; %=85.7) and few were suffering from thalassemia intermedia (n=10; %=14.3). Hepatitis and iron overload are the two most common complications of thalassemia. Majority of patients (n=69; %=98.5) had iron overload as a complication of blood transfusion, rather than hepatitis (n=43; %=61). Most commonly prescribed iron chelator was deferasirox (n=59; %=84). For therapeutic management of thalassemia, majority of patients were receiving folic acid (n=70; %=100), vitamin-D (n=65; %=92.8), calcium (n=70; % =100), acetaminophen (n= 62; %=88.5) and hydroxyurea (n=12; %=17). From surgical procedures, splenectomy (n=10; %=14) and stem cell transplant (n=1; %=1.4) were used. Conclusion: Highest prevalence was seen in males rather than females