Common Hemoglobinopathies in Premarital Couples in Al-Majmaah and Hawtat Sudair in Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia

A BSTRACT Introduction: Hemoglobinopathies are the third most common serious birth defects. These are a group of genetic conditions that damage hemoglobin (Hb) proteins in red blood cells. The prevalence of hemoglobinopathies in Saudi Arabia varies, with some regions lacking available data on prevalence rates. Objectives: The objective is to evaluate the prevalence of common hemoglobinopathies in Saudi adults attending premarital examinations at King Khalid General Hospital (KKGH) in Al Majma’ah and Hawtat Sudair General Hospital in Hawtat Sudair, Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia, between January 2021 and December 2022. Materials and Methods: Hb fractions were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Data were collected from the hematology laboratories of KKGH at Al Majma’ah and Hawtat Sudair General Hospital in Hawtat Sudair, Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia, between January 2021 and December 2022. Results: A total of 2293 KKGH individuals were enrolled in the study. One thousand two hundred and seventeen (53%) were male and 1076 (47%) were female. In Hawtat Sudair, 725 individuals were enrolled, including 338 males (47%) and 387 females (53%). The prevalence of hemoglobinopathies in KKGH was 1.61% and in Hawtat Sudair General Hospital was 0.7%. In the KKGH, out of 2293 participants, the prevalence of B-thalassemia trait is 26 (1.13%), sickle cell trait 10 (0.44%), and sickle/B-thalassemia trait1 (0.04), while out of 725 Hawtat Sudair General Hospital study participants, the prevalence of B-thalassemia trait is 1 (0.14%), sickle cell trait 2 (0.28%), and sickle cell disease (SCD) also 2 (0.28%). Conclusion: The most common Hb abnormality detected in the KKGH study group was B-thalassemia trait, followed by the sickle cell trait, and the sickle cell/B-thalassemia combination. While, the most common Hb abnormalities detected in the Hawtat Sudair General Hospital study group were SCD and sickle cell trait, followed by B-thalassemia trait, however the number of cases with Hb abnormalities were low (5 cases). These findings highlight the importance of regional variations which can help healthcare providers develop region-specific strategies for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of these conditions.