PREVALENCE OF THALASSEMIA IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN MULTAN, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Thalassemia is a significant inherited hemoglobin disorder that contributes to chronic anemia and poses a public health burden in South Asia. This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence and hematological patterns of thalassemia among 150 patients in a tertiary care hospital in Multan. Hemoglobin fractions and red cell indices were analyzed using standard laboratory methods. The majority of participants were male (81.3%) with a mean age of 35.26 ± 17.72 years. Reduced MCV (67.60 fL) and MCH (20.05 pg) indicated microcytic anemia. Elevated HbA2 (>3.5%), suggestive of β-thalassemia trait, was observed in 61.3% of patients, while 17.3% showed increased HbF (>30%). Hemoglobin levels varied significantly across age groups (p = .035), with the lowest levels in children. A strong positive correlation was found between Hb and HbA1 (r = .744), and a negative correlation with HbF (r = −.786, p < .001). The findings highlight β-thalassemia trait as the most prevalent condition and emphasize the need for early screening and preventive strategies. The findings confirm that β-thalassemia trait is the most prevalent hemoglobin disorder in the studied population. Reduced red cell indices align with previous studies identifying microcytic anemia as a hallmark feature. Elevated HbA2 levels serve as a reliable diagnostic indicator of β-thalassemia carriers. The strong inverse relationship between Hb and HbF suggests increased disease severity with higher fetal hemoglobin levels. Age-related differences further highlight the vulnerability of pediatric populations