title: The impact and disease burden of thalassemia in Thailand: a population-based study in 2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thalassemia is a common genetic disease in Thailand. However, current data on the impact and disease burden of thalassemia in Thailand remains limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the admission rate, OPD visit rate, mortality rate, hospital cost, length of hospital stay, blood transfusion rate and major complications rate in patients with thalassemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study analyzed the data of inpatients and outpatients with a diagnosis of thalssemia according to ICD10 coded D56, D56.0, D56.1, D56.2, D56.3, D56.4, D56.8 and D56.9 which came from nationwide health financing schemes in the fiscal year 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall admission rate and OPD visit rate were 154 and 562 per 100,000 populations and higher in children and adolescents. The overall mortality rate was 1.13 per 100,000 populations. The total healthcare cost was 744,998,997 Baht or US$ 23,486,727 per year. Blood transfusion rate was significantly higher among children and adolescents. The thalassemia-related complications commonly occurred at the second and the third decades of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The admission rate, OPD visit rate, blood transfusion rate were higher among children and adolescents. The total healthcare cost was high which was nearly 745 million Baht per year. The hospital cost, length of stay and major complications were increased with age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand. nattiya@kku.ac.th
authors.forename: Nattiya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Teawtrakul
authors.forename: Kanchana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chansung
authors.forename: Chittima
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sirijerachai
authors.forename: Chinadol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wanitpongpun
authors.forename: Kaewjai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thepsuthammarat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*