title: An association of aplastic anaemia in Thailand with low socioeconomic status. Aplastic Anemia Study Group.
abstract: The relationship of socioeconomic status to the risk of aplastic anaemia was evaluated in a case-control study conducted in Bangkok and two rural regions of Thailand (Khonkaen and Songkla). Among 152 cases and 921 controls there were significant trends of increasing risk with decreasing years of education (P = 0.01) and total household income (P = 0.0001), after control for confounding. The relative risk estimate for those with monthly incomes of < 1500 baht (about $60 U.S.) was 3.9 (95% confidence interval 2.1-7.3) compared to those with monthly incomes of at least 5000 baht (about $200). The pattern of increasing risk with decreasing income was observed in all three regions, with significant trends in Bangkok (P = 0.004) and Khonkaen (P = 0.003). This finding may partly explain the high incidence of aplastic anaemia in Thailand. Low socioeconomic status may be a surrogate for one or more environmental factors that could cause aplastic anaemia, such as infectious pathogens or toxic exposures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Issaragrisil
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chansung
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thamprasit
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sirijirachai
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piankijagum
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Porapakham
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vannasaeng
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Leaverton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology