Epidemiology and risk factors of transfusion transmitted infections in thalassemia major: a multicenter study in Pakistan
Background: Blood transfusion-transmitted infections in individuals suffering from beta-thalassemia have been reported in Pakistan, but the information on their sociodemographic and clinical determinants is lacking. This study aims to describe the prevalence, as well as the factors, contributing in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2019-10-01
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| Series: | Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2531137919300938 |
| _version_ | 1811322509306363904 |
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| author | Humaira Yasmeen Shahida Hasnain |
| author_facet | Humaira Yasmeen Shahida Hasnain |
| author_sort | Humaira Yasmeen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Blood transfusion-transmitted infections in individuals suffering from beta-thalassemia have been reported in Pakistan, but the information on their sociodemographic and clinical determinants is lacking. This study aims to describe the prevalence, as well as the factors, contributing in blood transfusion-transmitted infections. Method: Between December 2011 and December 2013, in a non-probable sampling, 350 thalassemia patients were recruited in Lahore, Multan, Karachi and Peshawar, Pakistan. Subjects were screened for transfusion-transmitted infections. Results: A seropositive rate of 36.5% was observed; males (94, 73.4%) and females (34, 26.6%). Among several risk factors associated with transfusion-transmitted infections, province (p = 0.001), gender (p = 0.003), age (p < 0.03), education (p < 0.00), degree of consanguinity (p = 0.05), age at fetal blood test (p = 0.005), fetal hemoglobin levels (p = 0.005), death due to thalassemia (p = 0.001) and iron-related complications (p = 0.04) showed significant correlation. Participants with an age >10 years were significantly more prone to seropositivity than those aged ≤10 years. Moreover, the ferritin level was also significantly higher in those aged >10 years than in those ≤10 years. It was observed that males had a higher seroprevalence rate (94, 73.4%) than females (34, 26.6%). The most prevalent transfusion-transmitted infections was the hepatitis C virus, with 115 cases (89.8%). Conclusion: A high prevalence rate of HCV in subjects with transfusion-dependent thalassemia is linked with insufficient facilities, poor management and compromised socioeconomic status. Therefore, more multicenter studies covering cities from different regions of the country are needed in order to develop preventive measurements at the regional and national level. Keywords: Thalassemia, Transfusion-transmitted infection, Pakistan, Seroprevalence, HCV |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T13:36:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bb3cdf1b4edd4acbbabf4a925ec10c2c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2531-1379 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T13:36:11Z |
| publishDate | 2019-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy |
| spelling | doaj.art-bb3cdf1b4edd4acbbabf4a925ec10c2c2022-12-22T02:44:46ZengElsevierHematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy2531-13792019-10-01414316323Epidemiology and risk factors of transfusion transmitted infections in thalassemia major: a multicenter study in PakistanHumaira Yasmeen0Shahida Hasnain1Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan; Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The Women University Multan, Punjab, Pakistan; Corresponding author at: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The Women University Multan, Punjab, PakistanDepartment of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan; Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The Women University Multan, Punjab, PakistanBackground: Blood transfusion-transmitted infections in individuals suffering from beta-thalassemia have been reported in Pakistan, but the information on their sociodemographic and clinical determinants is lacking. This study aims to describe the prevalence, as well as the factors, contributing in blood transfusion-transmitted infections. Method: Between December 2011 and December 2013, in a non-probable sampling, 350 thalassemia patients were recruited in Lahore, Multan, Karachi and Peshawar, Pakistan. Subjects were screened for transfusion-transmitted infections. Results: A seropositive rate of 36.5% was observed; males (94, 73.4%) and females (34, 26.6%). Among several risk factors associated with transfusion-transmitted infections, province (p = 0.001), gender (p = 0.003), age (p < 0.03), education (p < 0.00), degree of consanguinity (p = 0.05), age at fetal blood test (p = 0.005), fetal hemoglobin levels (p = 0.005), death due to thalassemia (p = 0.001) and iron-related complications (p = 0.04) showed significant correlation. Participants with an age >10 years were significantly more prone to seropositivity than those aged ≤10 years. Moreover, the ferritin level was also significantly higher in those aged >10 years than in those ≤10 years. It was observed that males had a higher seroprevalence rate (94, 73.4%) than females (34, 26.6%). The most prevalent transfusion-transmitted infections was the hepatitis C virus, with 115 cases (89.8%). Conclusion: A high prevalence rate of HCV in subjects with transfusion-dependent thalassemia is linked with insufficient facilities, poor management and compromised socioeconomic status. Therefore, more multicenter studies covering cities from different regions of the country are needed in order to develop preventive measurements at the regional and national level. Keywords: Thalassemia, Transfusion-transmitted infection, Pakistan, Seroprevalence, HCVhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2531137919300938 |
| spellingShingle | Humaira Yasmeen Shahida Hasnain Epidemiology and risk factors of transfusion transmitted infections in thalassemia major: a multicenter study in Pakistan Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy |
| title | Epidemiology and risk factors of transfusion transmitted infections in thalassemia major: a multicenter study in Pakistan |
| title_full | Epidemiology and risk factors of transfusion transmitted infections in thalassemia major: a multicenter study in Pakistan |
| title_fullStr | Epidemiology and risk factors of transfusion transmitted infections in thalassemia major: a multicenter study in Pakistan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Epidemiology and risk factors of transfusion transmitted infections in thalassemia major: a multicenter study in Pakistan |
| title_short | Epidemiology and risk factors of transfusion transmitted infections in thalassemia major: a multicenter study in Pakistan |
| title_sort | epidemiology and risk factors of transfusion transmitted infections in thalassemia major a multicenter study in pakistan |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2531137919300938 |
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