Thalassemia in Viet Nam

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Public Health
• Hematology

Background:

• Thalassemia is a significant public health concern in Vietnam, affecting 13.8% of the 96.2 million population.
• Carrier rates and specific globin gene mutations exhibit considerable ethnic and geographic diversity across the country's 54 ethnic groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the prevalence and distribution of thalassemia/hemoglobinopathy gene carriers in Vietnam.
• To understand the ethnic and topographic variations in thalassemia gene carrier rates and mutations.
• To inform public health strategies for thalassemia prevention and control.

Main Methods:

• Population-based carrier screening for thalassemia genes.
• Analysis of gene carrier rates and globin gene mutation frequencies.
• Geographic and ethnic stratification of data.

Main Results:

• Overall carrier rate is 13.8% across all 54 ethnic groups.
• High prevalence of alpha(0)-thalassemia and beta(0)-thalassemia in Northern Highland ethnic groups.
• High prevalence of alpha(+)-thalassemia and Hb E (HBB: c.79G>A) in Southern Middle region ethnic groups.
• Carrier rates range from 0.23% in La Hu to 88.6% in Raglai ethnic groups.

Conclusions:

• Thalassemia prevention and control programs in Vietnam utilize prenatal and neonatal diagnosis to minimize new births of affected individuals.
• Current management for existing thalassemia patients relies on supportive care, including blood transfusions and iron chelation.
• Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation offers a curative option but is accessible to a limited patient subset.