ABSTRACT
In Bahrain and neighbouring countries inherited disorders of haemoglobin, i.e. sickle-cell disease, thalassaemias and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, are common. As part of the National Student Screening Project to determine the prevalence of genetic blood disorders and raise awareness among young Bahrainis, we screened 11th-grade students from 38 schools (5685 students), organized lectures and distributed information about these disorders. Haemoglobin electrophoresis, high performance liquid chromatography, blood grouping and G6PD deficiency testing were performed. Prevalences were: 1.2% sickle-cell disease; 13.8% sickle-cell trait; 0.09% beta-thalassaemia; 2.9% beta-thalassaemia trait; 23.2% G6PD deficiency; 1.9% G6PD deficiency carrier. Health education, carrier screening and premarital counselling remain the best ways to reduce disease incidence with potentially significant financial savings and social and health benefits.
Subject(s)
Anemia, Sickle Cell/epidemiology , Genetic Testing/organization & administration , Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency/epidemiology , School Health Services/organization & administration , Sickle Cell Trait/epidemiology , Thalassemia/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Anemia, Sickle Cell/diagnosis , Anemia, Sickle Cell/genetics , Anemia, Sickle Cell/prevention & control , Bahrain/epidemiology , Consanguinity , Female , Genetic Carrier Screening , Genetic Counseling , Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency/diagnosis , Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency/genetics , Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency/prevention & control , Health Education , Health Services Needs and Demand , Hemoglobin C Disease/diagnosis , Hemoglobin C Disease/epidemiology , Hemoglobin C Disease/genetics , Hemoglobin C Disease/prevention & control , Hemoglobin E , Hemoglobinopathies/diagnosis , Hemoglobinopathies/epidemiology , Hemoglobinopathies/genetics , Hemoglobinopathies/prevention & control , Hemoglobins, Abnormal , Humans , Male , Mutation/genetics , Population Surveillance , Prevalence , Sickle Cell Trait/diagnosis , Sickle Cell Trait/genetics , Sickle Cell Trait/prevention & control , Thalassemia/diagnosis , Thalassemia/genetics , Thalassemia/prevention & controlABSTRACT
In Bahrain and neighbouring countries inherited disorders of haemoglobin, i.e. sickle-cell disease, thalassaemias and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD] deficiency, are common. As part of the National Student Screening Project to determine the prevalence of genetic blood disorders and raise awareness among young Bahrainis, we screened 11th-grade students from 38 schools [5685 students], organized lectures and distributed information about these disorders. Haemoglobin electrophoresis, high performance liquid chromatography, blood grouping and G6PD deficiency testing were performed. Prevalences were: 1.2% sickle-cell disease; 13.8% sickle-cell trait; 0.09% beta-thalassaemia; 2.9% beta-thalassaemia trait; 23.2% G6PD deficiency; 1.9% G6PD deficiency carrier. Health education, carrier screening and premarital counselling remain the best ways to reduce disease incidence with potentially significant financial savings and social and health benefits
