title: Half of the Emirati population has abnormal red cell parameters: challenges for standards and screening guidelines.
abstract: In populations with high prevalences of iron deficiency and thalassemia trait, many apparently healthy individuals have abnormal erythroid parameters, which may cause diagnostic problems in clinical practice. We studied the prevalence and causes of red cell parameter values outside their reference ranges in 394 healthy individuals of Bedouin Arab origin, who had complete blood counts (CBCs), hemoglobin (Hb) analyses and serum ferritin tests done. Their mean age ± standard deviation (SD) was 24.8 ± 4.9 years and 51.8% were females. Overall, 53.0% (209/394) had low Hb, MCV or MCH or high RDW. Anemia was present in 27.0% (55/204) of the women and 3.0% (6/190) of the men. Overall prevalence of MCV < 80.0 fL was 45.0% (176/394) and MCH < 27.0 pg was 48.0% (190/394); RDW > 14.0% was found in 21.0% (43/204) of women and 7.0% (14/190) of men. Of the women, 16.0% had iron deficiency anemia (33/204) and 65.0% had ferritin values of < 30.0 μg/L (133/204). The estimated prevalence of α-thalassemia (α-thal) trait in men was 32.0% (60/190) and that of β-thalassemia (β-thal) trait in both sexes was 3.0% (12/394). In conclusion, half of the healthy Emirati population have abnormal CBC values. For clinical purposes, they require reference standards for red cells that are derived from their own population. Screening of women for iron deficiency is justified due to a high prevalence of iron deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University , Al Ain, Abu Dhabi , United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Bayan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Al-Dabbagh
authors.forename: Saad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shawqi
authors.forename: Javed
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yasin
authors.forename: Awad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Essa
authors.forename: Nico
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nagelkerke
authors.forename: Srdjan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Denic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D006453:Hemoglobinopathies / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D012015:Reference Standards; D014479:United Arab Emirates; D055815:Young Adult