PREVALENCE AND STRUCTURE OF HEMOLYTIC ANEMIAS IN CHILDREN IN THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

Abstract

Objective: to assess the prevalence and structure of hemolytic anemias (HA) in children in the Republic of Belarus over the period 2005-2016. Material and methods . Absolute and intensive indicators (per 100,000 children) were assessed according to the data of official statistical reports: the number of HA cases detected at the age of 0-17, newly diagnosed cases of HA over the current year, the number of children with HA who are on dispensary registration by the end of the year. These indicators were estimated in the Republic of Belarus as a whole and separately by regions and age groups. Results . The average incidence rate of HA in the Republic of Belarus from 2005 to 2016 was 12.9 per 100,000 children, the number of newly registered cases was 1.8 per 100,000 children. From 2005 to 2016 there was an increase in the incidence rate of pediatric HA (average annual growth rate of 2.4% per year, rs = + 0.825, p = 0.001). The highest incidence rates of HA in children were in Vitebsk, Minsk, and Grodno regions. The growth of the morbidity was the most pronounced in Minsk, Gomel, and Vitebsk regions. The highest values of newly diagnosed cases of HA per 100,000 people were recorded in Grodno and Vitebsk regions, and the lowest was in the city Minsk. Most newly diagnosed cases of HA were registered in children of the first year of life (38.4% of cases, incidence of 11.3 per 100,000 people in this age group) and in children aged 1-4 (30.3%, incidence 2.3 per 100,000). In the structure of newly identified cases of HA, hereditary spherocytosis (51.6%), autoimmune HA (18.8%) and thalassemia (12.5%) were predominant. The etiology of HA remains unspecified in 10.9% of cases. The prevalence of hereditary spherocytosis in Belarus is much lower than the expected one, whereas the prevalence of autoimmune HA is higher than that in the European region. Conclusion. The increase in the incidence rate of HA in children and their inadequate record point to the necessity of improvement of HA diagnostic means.