Cross-sectional Assessment of Physical Manifestations in Vietnamese Children with Thalassemia: A Single-Center Study

Abstract

Introduction: This cross-sectional study intends to analyze the physical growth of children thalassemia patients and evaluate the factors linked to their physical features. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study tracked 44 pediatric thalassemia patients at a Central Vietnam Tertiary Pediatric Center from February to December 2023. Results: The study participants had a mean age of 7.5 ± 4.3 years and an equal gender distribution. 64.5% of these individuals had thalassemia and required blood transfusions. 43.2% of subjects had serum ferritin levels above 1000 ng/ml, and the average hemoglobin content was 67.4 ± 16.1 g/L 31.8% of the children assessed had height-for-age measurements below-2 standard deviations, while 43.2% had weight-for-age measurements below-2 standard deviations. Significant correlations were found between height-for-age, weight-for-age, blood transfusion reliance, and serum ferritin levels (p < 0.05). No significant changes were seen between physical indices and disease type or hemoglobin concentration (p > 0.05). 31.8% of juvenile thalassemia patients were found to have stunting, whereas 43.2% exhibited wasting malnutrition in this study. Conclusion: Blood transfusion reliance and serum ferritin concentration were found to be linked to a higher occurrence of stunting and wasting malnutrition in children with thalassemia.