Publication: Vitamin D Deficiency among Blood Transfusion-Dependent Beta Thalassemia Children Admitted to Tertiary Level Pediatric Hospital in Nepal: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study
Date
2024
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nepal Medical Association
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Children with beta thalassemia are on regular blood transfusions, which could result in iron deposition in the liver causing decreased synthesis of Vitamin D-25OH. There are limited publications on the association of Vitamin D deficiency with blood transfusion-dependent thalassemia in the Nepalese population. This study aims to determine the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency among blood transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia patients.
Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among beta-thalassemia major patients under 15 years of age, receiving regular blood transfusion, from July 17, 2022, to July 16, 2023, after attaining ethical approval from Ethical Review Committee, (reference number 155). Data were collected using convenience sampling, and descriptive analyses were performed using Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 2024.
Results: A total of 127 blood transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia major patients were included in the study, of whom 82 (64.56%) were female. Among these patients, 104 (81.88%) were aged between 5 and 14 year. Among 127, 41 (32.28%) had Vitamin D insufficiency, and 31 (24.40%) had Vitamin D deficiency. There were 12 (9.44%) underweight children.
Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency was seen in more than half of the children with blood transfusion dependent beta thalassemia major.
Description
Anil Kumar Shrestha
Department of Pediatrics, Kanti Children’s Hospital, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal
Sangay Chultim Sherpa
Department of Medicine, Om Hospital and Research Center, Chabahil, Kathmandu, Nepal
Bindu Gyawali
Curative Service Division, Ministry of Health and Population, Teku, Kathmandu, Nepal
Manisha Sharma
Department of Pediatrics, Kanti Children’s Hospital, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal
Santosh Adhikari
Department of Pediatrics, Kanti Children’s Hospital, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal
Suchitra Shrestha
Nepalese army Institute of Health Science, Bhandarkhal, Kathmandu, Nepal
Susan Bhattarai
Department of Pediatrics, Kanti Children’s Hospital, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal
Sagar Thapa
Nepalese army Institute of Health Science, Bhandarkhal, Kathmandu, Nepal
Devashish Sharma
Department of Pediatrics, Kanti Children’s Hospital, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal
Prajwal Paudel
Department of Pediatrics, Paropakar Maternity & Women’s Hospital, Thapathali, Kathmandu, Nepal
Sushil Gyawali
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kanti Children’s Hospital, Maharajgunj,Kathmandu, Nepal