High prevalence of Alpha- and Beta-Thalassemia in the Kadazandusuns in east Malaysia: challenges in providing effective health care for an indigenous group

Tan, Jin Ai Mary Anne and Lee, Ping Chin and Wee, Yong Chui and Tan, Kim Lian and Mahali, Noor Fadzlin and George, Elizabeth and Chua, Kek Heng (2010) High prevalence of Alpha- and Beta-Thalassemia in the Kadazandusuns in east Malaysia: challenges in providing effective health care for an indigenous group. Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, 2010. p. 706872. ISSN 1110-7243, DOI https://doi.org/10.1155/2010/706872.

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Abstract

Thalassemia can lead to severe transfusion-dependent anemia, and it is the most common genetic disorder in Malaysia. This paper aims to determine the prevalence of thalassemia in the Kadazandusuns, the largest indigenous group in Sabah, East Malaysia. alpha-and beta-thalassemia were confirmed in 33.6 and 12.8, of the individuals studied respectively. The high prevalence of alpha- and beta-thalassemia in the Kadazandusuns indicates that thalassemia screening, genetic counseling, and prenatal diagnosis should be included as part of their healthcare system. This preliminary paper serves as a baseline for further investigations into the health and genetic defects of the major indigenous population in Sabah, East Malaysia.

Item Type: Article
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Additional Information: Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Building, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA
Uncontrolled Keywords: Comorbidity; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology
Subjects: R Medicine
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine
Depositing User: Ms Haslinda Lahuddin
Date Deposited: 02 Oct 2012 02:14
Last Modified: 04 Sep 2019 08:57
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/3708

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