COVID-19 Serological Status in Beta-thalassemia Patients in Iran: A Retrospective Descriptive Study

Background: Patients with beta-thalassemia (BT) are more prone to infections than others, especially when they have some risk factors. Some reports showed the lower severity of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in this population. Objectives: In this study, we aimed to determine the serological status of COVID-19 in BT patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in September 2020-February 2021 at Ali-Asghar Children's Hospital, Iran. All major and intermedia β-thalassemia patients dependent on blood transfusion were enrolled in this study. Demographic information, including age, gender, thalassemia type, history of splenectomy, and blood type, were recorded in a checklist. Moreover, the patients were asked about their exposure to COVID-19, and the related symptoms, such as cough, fever, headache, and anosmia, in the last six months. The enrolled cases were examined for anti-COVID-19 IgM and IgG to determine the serological status against this virus. Results: The positive IgG and IgM tests against COVID-19 were in 35.7% (25/70) and 20% (14/70) of cases, respectively, while 42.9% (30/70) were either IgM- or IgG-positive. Among the serologically positive cases, six had a history of at least one symptom suspicious of COVID-19. These six included one fever, two coughs, one anosmia, one dyspnea, and one cough and anosmia. Only one of the patients was hospitalized (1%) with fever and dyspnea. No Intensive Care Unit admission or mortality was reported. Conclusions: It seems that COVID-19 is more likely to be mild or asymptomatic in patients with BT.