High prevalence of alpha- and beta-thalassemia in the Kadazandusuns in East Malaysia: challenges in providing effective health care for an indigenous group.
Thalassemia can lead to severe transfusion-dependent anemia, and it is the most common genetic disorder in Malaysia. This paper aims to determine the prevalence of thalassemia in the Kadazandusuns, the largest indigenous group in Sabah, East Malaysia. α- and β-thalassemia were confirmed in 33.6% and 12.8%, of the individuals studied respectively. The high prevalence of α- and β-thalassemia in the Kadazandusuns indicates that thalassemia screening, genetic counseling, and prenatal diagnosis should be included as part of their healthcare system. This preliminary paper serves as a baseline for further investigations into the health and genetic defects of the major indigenous population in Sabah, East Malaysia.
Tan
Jin-Ai Mary Anne
JA
Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia. maryanne@um.edu.my
Lee
Ping-Chin
PC
Wee
Yong-Chui
YC
Tan
Kim-Lian
KL
Mahali
Noor Fadzlin
NF
George
Elizabeth
E
Chua
Kek-Heng
KH
D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D044382:Population Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000453:epidemiology*