Prevalence and Demographic Analysis of Hemoglobinopathies in Newborns: A Three-Year Study at Thumbay Teaching Hospital, Ajman-UAE.

Background and purpose: Hemoglobinopathies are hereditary blood disorders affecting hemoglobin in red blood cells. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and types of hemoglobinopathies among newborns in Thumbay Teaching Hospital, Ajman-UAE, over three years (2020-2022), and to analyze demographic trends.

Method and population: A laboratory-based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 6,050 newborns screened using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).

Results: We consider this study and its results as a new effort in the field of hemoglobinopathy research and management in Ajman in the United Arab Emirates. The final main findings revealed different hemoglobinopathy cases. In 2020 Two cases (2) involving Hb C variant were recorded, both of African origin (from Sudan and Egypt). The third case was Hb D variant which was also of African origin (Egypt). In 2021 no case was found. In 2022, the results showed a widespread of cases; A patient from Nigeria reported having Hb C, three cases of Hb D from Pakistan, two cases of Hb E trait from people in Bangladesh and India, one case of Hb S from Malawi, five cases of Hb S trait from people in Africa (two from Kenya, one from Tanzania), and two cases from Asian people from Yemen. The total number of detected hemoglobinopathies was 15 cases, accounting for a percentage of (0.2%).

Conclusion: The study reveals a diverse presence of hemoglobinopathies among newborns in Ajman and underscores the importance of newborn screening programs to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment, particularly in regions with high genetic disorder prevalence. The study revealed almost an obvious African origin of Hb C and S cases and Asian one of Hb E and D cases.