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Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Beta-thalassemia epidemiology and demographics

Introduction

Overview

Overview

The prevalence of beta-thalassemia carrier is 1.5% of the world population which is mainly in regions with a historical association with malaria, including the Mediterranean, Middle East, Central Asia, Indian subcontinent, and parts of Southeast Asia and Africa. The incidence of beta-thalassemia is 42,000 per year. It affects both males and females in a similar demographic manner.

Epidemiology and Demographics

Epidemiology and Demographics

Prevalence

There are insufficient data about the exact prevalence of beta-thalassemia.

  • The prevalence of beta-thalassemia carrier is 1.5% of the world population.[1]
  • More than 90% of the cases live in a geographic “belt” extending from the Mediterranean basin and parts of Africa, throughout the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Melanesia into the Pacific Islands (regions with a historical association with malaria).[2][3]
  • There are increases in the number of cases through North America and Europe, which reflects the increased rates of migrations, refugees and adaptation of children.[4]
  • Gender distribution: It affects both males and females in a similar demographic manner. Lahiry P, Al-Attar SA, Hegele RA. Understanding beta-thalassemia with a focus on the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East. The open hematology journal. 2008 Jan 22;2(1).

Incident

  • The incidence of beta-thalassemia is 42,000 per year.[5]
  • Recent studies suggest that around 23000 infants with beta-thalassemia major are born every year and up to 90% of these infants are in low- or middle-income countries.[1]
References

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 De Sanctis V, Kattamis C, Canatan D, Soliman AT, Elsedfy H, Karimi M; et al. (2017). “β-Thalassemia Distribution in the Old World: an Ancient Disease Seen from a Historical Standpoint”. Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis. 9 (1): e2017018. doi:10.4084/MJHID.2017.018. PMC 5333734. PMID 28293406.
  2. ↑ Ladis V, Karagiorga-Lagana M, Tsatra I, Chouliaras G (April 2013). “Thirty-year experience in preventing haemoglobinopathies in Greece: achievements and potentials for optimisation”. Eur J Haematol. 90 (4): 313–22. doi:10.1111/ejh.12076. PMID 23331260.
  3. ↑ Kountouris P, Lederer CW, Fanis P, Feleki X, Old J, Kleanthous M (2014). “IthaGenes: an interactive database for haemoglobin variations and epidemiology”. PLoS One. 9 (7): e103020. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0103020. PMC 4109966. PMID 25058394.
  4. ↑ Barry RM, Chretien C, Kirby M, Gallant G, Leppington S, Robitaille N, Corriveau-Bourque C, Stoffman J, Wu J, Leaker M, Klaassen RJ (March 2020). “Syrian Refugees and Their Impact on Health Service Delivery in the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinics Across Canada”. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 42 (2): e107–e109. doi:10.1097/MPH.0000000000001524. PMID 31233463.
  5. ↑ Liaska A, Petrou P, Georgakopoulos CD, Diamanti R, Papaconstantinou D, Kanakis MG; et al. (2016). “β-Thalassemia and ocular implications: a systematic review”. BMC Ophthalmol. 16: 102. doi:10.1186/s12886-016-0285-2. PMC 4938965. PMID 27390837.


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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Maryam Hadipour, M.D.[2]