Determinación de la prevalencia de hemoglobinopatías en una muestra de recién nacidos de Bogotá

Introduction: Hemoglobinopathies are inherited disorders affecting the structure or synthesis of hemoglobin and represent a major public health concern, particularly among populations of African ancestry. In Colombia, most studies have been conducted in regions with a high proportion of individuals of African descent; however, data on their prevalence in ethnically diverse urban populations, such as Bogotá, remain limited. Although the World Health Organization recommends newborn screening for these disorders, and Colombia has established a regulatory framework and national guidelines for its implementation, challenges to expanding coverage and ensuring equitable access persist. Objective: To determine the prevalence of hemoglobinopathies among newborns in Bogotá and provide epidemiological evidence to inform newborn screening strategies. Methods: A prospective descriptive study was conducted using 586 umbilical cord blood samples collected on filter paper from the sample bank of the Bogotá District Health Secretariat's newborn screening program for congenital hypothyroidism. Samples were selected through convenience sampling from the remaining specimens that met the predefined quality criteria. Hemoglobin variants were identified by isoelectric focusing electrophoresis, followed by automated densitometric analysis using IsoScan® software.