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Vitamin D Deficiency among Blood Transfusion Dependent Beta Thalassemia Children Admitted to Tertiary Level Pediatric
Anil Kumar Shrestha1, Sangay Chultim Sherpa2, Bindu Gyawali3
1Department of Pediatrics, Kanti Children's Hospital, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Insights
Vitamin D deficiency is common in Nepalese children with beta-thalassemia major requiring regular blood transfusions. Over half of the studied children exhibited Vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency, highlighting a significant public health concern.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Hematology
Background:
- Beta-thalassemia major necessitates regular blood transfusions, potentially leading to iron overload and impaired Vitamin D synthesis.
- Limited data exists on Vitamin D deficiency prevalence in transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia patients within the Nepalese population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency among children with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia major in Nepal.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted involving 127 beta-thalassemia major patients under 15 years old.
- Data collection occurred between July 2022 and July 2023 using convenience sampling.
- Descriptive statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 2024 and Microsoft Excel.
Main Results:
- Out of 127 patients, 41 (32.28%) had Vitamin D insufficiency and 31 (24.40%) had Vitamin D deficiency.
- The majority of participants, 104 (81.88%), were between 5 and 14 years old.
- 12 (9.44%) children were identified as underweight.
Conclusions:
- Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are prevalent in children with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia major.
- These findings underscore the need for monitoring Vitamin D levels in this vulnerable pediatric population.
Introduction:
Children with beta thalassemia are on regular blood transfusions, which could result in iron deposition in the liver causing decreased synthesis of Vitamin D-25OH. There are limited publications on the association of Vitamin D deficiency with blood transfusion-dependent thalassemia in the Nepalese population. This study aims to determine the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency among blood transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia patients.
Methods:
This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among beta-thalassemia major patients under 15 years of age, receiving regular blood transfusion, from July 17, 2022, to July 16, 2023, after attaining ethical approval from Ethical Review Committee, (reference number 155). Data were collected using convenience sampling, and descriptive analyses were performed using Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 2024.
Results:
A total of 127 blood transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia major patients were included in the study, of whom 82 (64.56%) were female. Among these patients, 104 (81.88%) were aged between 5 and 14 year. Among 127, 41 (32.28%) had Vitamin D insufficiency, and 31 (24.40%) had Vitamin D deficiency. There were 12 (9.44%) underweight children.
Conclusions:
Vitamin D deficiency was seen in more than half of the children with blood transfusion dependent beta thalassemia major.
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