Statistical Aspects of Thalassemia Major: A Case Study in Punjab Pakistan

Abstract

Thalassemia major is becoming one of the leading health problems in Pakistan. A case study on 204 patients was carried out at Fatimid Foundation Lahore. The objective of the current study was to investigate the prevalence of the disease in patients related to physical and socio-demographic aspects. The questionnaire was designed to collect the information on factors regarding the gender, age, weight, height, blood group, Hb level, ferritin level, age at the diagnosis, age at the first transfusion, complications associated with the disease and some information was collected from parents relating their education, awareness about disease and their relation. Descriptive and analytical analysis were performed by using numbers & percentages, Chi- Square, Phi and V values, Kendall’s Tau-B techniques. Descriptive analysis showed that disease is more common in males (61.3%) and risk factor blood group observed where (91.6%) patients had positive blood groups. Consanguinity was found to be a great risk factor. In bivariate analysis factors age group, caste, Splenectomy, enlarged liver, patients’ education, hepatitis C are found to be significantly associated with the gender and blood transfusion in a month, ferritin level, bones problem and hepatitis Care associated with age. It has observed from the results that thalassemia is an inherited blood disease and can be prevented by creating awareness in people of our country.