Publication: New mathematical formula for differentiating thalassemia trait and iron deficiency anemia in thalassemia prevalent area: A study in healthy school-age children
Issued Date
2014-01-01
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ISSN
01251562
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2-s2.0-84899573032
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Mahidol University
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. Vol.45, No.1 (2014), 174-182
Suggested Citation
Nongnuch Sirachainan, Pornchanok Iamsirirak, Pimlak Charoenkwan, Praguywan Kadegasem, Pakawan Wongwerawattanakoon, Werasak Sasanakul, Natkamol Chansatitporn, Ampaiwan Chuansumrit New mathematical formula for differentiating thalassemia trait and iron deficiency anemia in thalassemia prevalent area: A study in healthy school-age children. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. Vol.45, No.1 (2014), 174-182. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/34532
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Title
New mathematical formula for differentiating thalassemia trait and iron deficiency anemia in thalassemia prevalent area: A study in healthy school-age children
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Abstract
Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and thalassemias are common diseases especially in the Mediterranean, Middle East and Asian regions. Both conditions show the same clinical findings of hypochromic and microcytic red blood cells. Although previous studies have devised mathematical formulae to differentiate between these two conditions, the prevalence of α- and β-thalassemias among the affected populations may undermine the accuracy of these formulae. This study generated a new formula that was able to differentiate IDA and thalassemia traits and to determine the incidence rates of IDA and thalassemia traits. A total of 345 healthy Thai children with a mean age (± SD) of 11.3 (± 1.7) years were enrolled. Complete blood count, iron status, hemoglobin typing and DNA for α-1 thalassemia identification were investigated. Discriminant analysis was used to create a new mathematical formula containing significant variables to differentiate between IDA and thalassemia traits. The new formula of (1.5 Hb-0.05 MCV >14) had a receiver operator characteristic curve of 0.92 in differentiating thalassemia traits from IDA, with sensitivity and specificity of 84.6 and 87.5%, respectively. The incidence of IDA and thalassemia traits in the study group was 12% and 32%, respectively. This formula should be useful as a screening tool to differentiate between these two conditions.