Prevalence of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency among Thalassemia Patients Attending Yemen Society for Thalassemia, Sana’a.

Background: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common enzyme deficiency worldwide. Determining the prevalence of G6PD deficiency is an essential step toward evaluating its impact on the community health especially Thalassemia patients. Aim: To determine the prevalence of G6PD deficiency and classification of severity of G6PD deficiency among Thalassemia patients in Yemen Society for Thalassemia and Genetic Blood Disorders(YSTH). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at YSTH. All Thalassemia patients who are registered in (YSTH), were enrolled in this study. 67 patients were selected using simple random sampling method. Data on demographic characteristics of patients and their parents was collected using a pre-designed questionnaire. G6PD deficiency was qualitatively detected and quantitative test of G6PD was performed on who deficient to assess the severity of deficiency. SPSS was used for statistical analysis. Results : Out of 67 screened Thalassemia patients (40 males and 27 females), 4 patients(3 male and 1 female patients) were G6PD-deficient, with an overall prevalence of 6.0 %. G6PD deficiency was not significantly associated with sex of patients. Results of the study showed that all patients who have G6PD deficiency have moderate deficiency. Conclusion: G6PD deficiency is prevalent among Thalassemia patients. It is more prevalent among males than females, and it was not statistically significantly associated with sex and consanguinity between the parents. All G6PD deficiency patients were on moderate class according to WHO classification.