Iron deficiency unveiled: Exploring its intersection with beta thalassemia trait

Objective: To identify the coexistence of iron deficiency anaemia in patients of beta thalassemia trait in Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Thalassemia Centre of Holy Family Hospital and Pakistan Thalassemia Center Rawalpindi from September 2023 to February 2024 including 136 patients, comprising patients diagnosed as beta-thalassemia trait and parents and siblings of patients with beta-thalassemia major. CBC and serum ferritin tests were analysed. Patients suffering from other causes of anaemia, acute infections, or recent oral iron intake were excluded. Data was collected using convenience sampling and analysed using SPSS version 27.0. The association between the serum ferritin level groups and gender was analyzed using the chi-square test (p < 0.05). Mean haemoglobin concentrations and ranges were calculated for each group. Results: During the study, 136 patients with beta-thalassemia trait participated. 75% were males and 25% were females, with an average age of 22.26±14.26 years. Their average haemoglobin level was 11.750±1.78 g/dl. Serum ferritin levels ranged from 3.33 to 488.0 ng/ml. IDA was diagnosed in 12.6% of participants, while 65.4% had normal ferritin levels, and 22% were at risk of iron overload. There was a significant association between iron stores and gender (p=0.002). Haemoglobin concentrations varied across groups: Group 1 (9.406 g/dl), Group 2 (11.845 g/dl), and Group 3 (12.013 g/dl). Conclusion: Our study reveals a notable occurrence of iron deficiency (12.6%) among individuals with BTT. This represents a manageable clinical problem. It emphasizes the importance of accurately assessing iron levels in BTT patients and initiating appropriate treatment to improve their overall well-being. Keywords: B-Thalassemia trait, Iron deficiency anaemia, Haemoglobin