Prevalence of iron deficiency anemia and beta thalassemia carriers among relatives of beta thalassemia patients in Nile Delta region, Egypt: a multicenter study

Mohamed R El-Shanshory, Laila M Sherief, Hoda M Hassab, Seham M Ragab, Sohier Yahia, Ahmed K Mansour, Adel S Ahmed, Said H Abdou, Amal M Helmy, Mona M Watany, Ahmed M Gad ALllah, Myriam A Guindy, Zeinab I Mourad, Mohamed A Soliman, Reham M El-Farahaty, Faeza El-Dahtory, Ahmad Darwish, Suzy Abd Elmabood, Ibrahim A Kabbash, Shimaa M Saied, Mohamed R El-Shanshory, Laila M Sherief, Hoda M Hassab, Seham M Ragab, Sohier Yahia, Ahmed K Mansour, Adel S Ahmed, Said H Abdou, Amal M Helmy, Mona M Watany, Ahmed M Gad ALllah, Myriam A Guindy, Zeinab I Mourad, Mohamed A Soliman, Reham M El-Farahaty, Faeza El-Dahtory, Ahmad Darwish, Suzy Abd Elmabood, Ibrahim A Kabbash, Shimaa M Saied

Abstract

Background: Screening of β thalassemia among close relatives is more feasible in highly prevalent countries with limited resources. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of β thalassemia carriers and iron deficiency anemia among relatives of β thalassemia patients in Mid Delta, Egypt.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional multi-center study conducted on 2118 relatives of patients with β thalassemia from different Egyptian governorates in the Mid Delta region. They were subjected to history taking with precise determination of geographic location, general examination, and the following investigations: complete blood counts, serum ferritin for those who showed microcytic hypochromic anemia, and high-performance liquid chromatography for those who were not diagnosed as iron deficiency anemia.

Results: The total prevalence of iron deficiency anemia among close relatives of confirmed β thalassemia patients in the Nile Delta region was 17.19%. The highest prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (45.05%) was reported in Al-Gharbia Governorate, followed by Al-Menoufia Governorate (21.67%), and the lowest prevalence was that of Al-Sharkia Governorate (4.91%). The differences were highly statistically significant (p < 0.001). β thalassemia carrier prevalence rate in the studied relatives was 35.84%, with the highest prevalence detected in Al-Sharkia Governorate (51.32%), followed by Kafr-Alsheikh and Al-Dakahilia Governorates (41.78%, 37.13%) respectively, while Al-Menoufia Governorate had the lowest prevalence rate (25.00%). These differences were also highly statistically significant (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: More than one-third of relatives of patients with β thalassemia are carriers of the disease, while 17.19% suffer from iron deficiency anemia. This study demonstrates the importance of tracing the high number of beta thalassemia carriers among relatives of patients with β thalassemia in Egypt.

Keywords: Egypt; Mid Delta; Screening; Thalassemia carriers.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

© 2021. The Author(s).

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Screening algorithm for the participants

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