Anemia and thalassemia in the Kui (Suay) elderly living in Sisaket Province located at the lower Northeastern Thailand

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Roongnalin Bunthupanich
Rossarin Karnpean
Anuwat Pinyachat
Nawinda Jiambunsri
Nattapol Prakobkaew

Abstract

This study investigated the prevalence of anemia and thalassemia in Suay elderly population. The study conducted on 63 apparently healthy individuals with age of 60-85 years.  Blood samples were collected to determine the following laboratory testings; red blood cell (RBC) parameters, hemoglobin analysis and globin genotyping. Based upon established WHO criteria, the overall prevalence of anemia was found to be 47.6%. The astoundingly high prevalence of thalassemia was found in non-anemic subjects for 84.8% and anemic subjects for 93.3%. As expected, the high frequency of Hb E and +-thalassemia was observed in this population, consistent with the evidence previously known in the region.  High prevalence of 0-thalassemia (SEA deletion) was found in Suay ethnic group. In addition, -thalassemia and Hb E relateddisease like AEBart’s and EEBart’s were found in this population. These data indicated that health burden resulting from Hb Bart’s hydrops fetalis may be serious in Suay ethnic group and complex thalassemia disease found to be health problems in the elderly. Our findings provide not only baseline information, potentially useful for implementing appropriate control measures, but also an enhanced awareness and understanding of anemia and health care advice among Suay elderly population.

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1.
Bunthupanich R, Karnpean R, Pinyachat A, Jiambunsri N, Prakobkaew N. Anemia and thalassemia in the Kui (Suay) elderly living in Sisaket Province located at the lower Northeastern Thailand. Arch AHS [Internet]. 2020 Dec. 29 [cited 2024 Dec. 15];32(3):32-8. Available from: https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ams/article/view/239930
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Original article

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