5588005 IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC TO PRE-TRANSFUSION HEMOGLOBIN LEVEL AND FREQUENCY OF TRANSFUSION IN TRANSFUSION-DEPENDENT THALASSEMIA PATIENTS IN INDONESIA

Abstract

Introduction: Transfusion-dependent thalassemia is the most severe form of thalassemia in which patients require regular blood transfusion to maintain their hemoglobin level. COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the routine measure in controlling chronic diseases like thalassemia. Aims: This study aims to measure the difference in pre-transfusion hemoglobin level and frequency of transfusion before and during pandemic. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study utilized medical records data of 101 transfusion dependent thalassemia beta (TDT) patients treated in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (CMH) from 2019-2021. Dependent variables of this study were pre-transfusion hemoglobin level and transfusion attendance. Pre-pandemic phase was defined from March 30, 2019 to March 29, 2020, whereas during-pandemic phase was from March 30, 2020 to March 29, 2021. Results: Up to 59.4% of subjects had suboptimal Hb level of < 9.0 g/dL even before the pandemic and it increased to 71.3% during pandemic. Transfusion frequency of pre-pandemic and during-pandemic phase showed no significant difference (p value = 0.990). The mean pre-transfusion hemoglobin level before pandemic was 8.70 g/dL and it decreased to 8.45 g/dL (p value <0.001). Summary - Conclusion: Our study showed poorer control of pre-transfusion Hb level during the pandemic and decreased transfusion frequency. This puts them at higher risk of developing many long-term complications.