Economic Burden of Transfusion Dependent Thalassemia

Excerpt

Beta-thalassemia is the most common autosomal recessive disorder worldwide. Several surveys have been conducted including multi-centric studies under Jai Vigyan S & T mission project on community control of thalassemia syndromes and its mean prevalence is nearly 3.5% (range 1–17%) [1‐5]. Its prevalence is high in certain communities like Sindhis, Punjabis, Khatries, Gujratis, Mahars, Lohans and in certain Muslim and Christian communities. In India, over 50 million people are carriers of thalassemia [6]. As per National Health Mission guidelines on Hemoglobinopathies in India, 10,000 to 15,000 babies with thalassemia major are born in India every year and about 1 to 1.5 lakh thalassemia patients are there in our country [7]. …