Hemoglobinopathies are single-gene disorders with autosomal recessive inheritance constituting an important cause of morbidity and mortality, imposing a heavy psychological and economical burden on the affected families. The prevalence of Thalassemia and Haemoglobinopathies had been low previously, but now it is found increasing at a rapid pace, because of the migrant population. Since Our Hospital is located in a unique demographic location, in the outskirts of Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu state, populated by multi-ethnic and multi-linguistic residents of varying socio-economic status, we decided to instigate a random sampling study to unearth the presence of Haemoglobinopathies and Thalassemia syndromes among the patients attending our hospital, for various ailments. Hence a prospective study is conducted to screen the variants of haemoglobin by using the High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) technology in Saveetha Medical College Hospital, Chennai, for a period of 18 months from May 2018 to October 2019. Out of 305 patients screened, 119 patients were identified to have Thalassemia traits/hemoglobinopathy. Among the 119 positive patients identified, most of them were unaware of the fact, that they are having a blood related genetic disorder, which could be passed on to their next generation. The major barrier in the implementation of the carrier screening programme, is the lack of knowledge about the genetic transmission of these diseases and the advantages of the carrier screening are preventing the birth of a genetically defective child. Creating awareness about the carrier screening among the reproductive population, becomes the key factor in the reduction of the prevalence of Thalassemia and Haemoglobinopathies. This study discusses an Analytical approach for Screening Thalassemia and Haemoglobinopathies and also insists on a flowchart depicting the action plans to be taken to reduce the prevalence of Thalassemia and Haemoglobinopathies.
Screening for Haemoglobinopathies- Better prevent than regret - A Tip of the iceberg experience in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Chennai
