Hemoglobin H Disease in Turkey: Experience from Eight Centers

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Genetics
• Public Health

Background:

• Hemoglobin H (HbH) disease is a significant inherited blood disorder.
• Understanding its prevalence and distribution is crucial for effective healthcare management in Turkey.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and geographical distribution of Hemoglobin H (HbH) disease in Turkey.
• To highlight the importance of HbH disease for public health in Turkey.
• To identify regional disparities in HbH disease reporting.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of patient data from 8 Turkish hemoglobinopathy centers.
• Literature review of published studies on HbH disease in Turkish patients using PubMed.
• Data compilation and comparison of patient numbers across different centers.

Main Results:

• A total of 273 patients with HbH disease were identified from 8 centers.
• The Antakya Hemoglobinopathy Center reported a disproportionately high number of cases (232 patients).
• A literature search identified 198 additional HbH patients from 16 published articles.

Conclusions:

• HbH disease presents a notable health issue in Turkey, with a significant concentration of cases in the Antakya region.
• There is a critical need for improved national registries and data collection for HbH disease.
• Collaboration between hematology associations and the Ministry of Health is essential for accurate disease surveillance.