The Impact of Pregnancy Outcomes on Thalassemia Trait in Poor Bangladeshi Mothers

Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder. The pregnant mothers with thalassemia trait can causes severe to mild complications. The aim of our recent study was to find out the outcome of pregnant mothers with thalassemia trait. This is a prospective case control study in two Hospitals Gonoshasthaya Samaj Vittik Medical College, Savar and Thalassemia Hospital and Institute, Zinzira, Dhaka, Bangladesh. All pregnancies occurred between January 2022 to December 2024 were included. Study group (n =21) are Beta thalassemia trait and normal hemoglobin variants are included in Control group (n = 84). Data was analyzed by Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS-25).
Beta Thalassemia trait mothers had mean hemoglobin (Hb) 9.2 gm/dl and required Blood transfusion 14% cases. In normal Hb Pattern mothers had mean hemoglobin 11.2gm/dl and Required Blood transfusion 2% cases. Other like Hb E trait and Hb D trait mothers had mean respectively Hb 10.2gm/dl and 10.7gm/dl Hb E trait and Hb D trait mothers required no blood transfusion in their pregnancy. There is a significant relationship between the control group and study group regarding anemia as well as other adverse maternal outcome like gestational hypertension and antepartum hemorrhage. The odds ratio (OR) gestational hypertension is 2.96 and antepartum hemorrhage is 4.15 which reflects study group has more chances of these adverse outcome. The odds ratio (OR) of gestational diabetes postpartum hemorrhage, postpartum depression and cesarean section were more than one (>1), it indicates study group have chance of mentioned adverse outcome. In the study group, the odds ratio (OR) is 0.49 is lower odds for normal vaginal delivery (NVD).
In fetal outcome higher odds are NICU admission, APGAR score <7 at 5 min, also still birth is a risk factor. There are no significant relation with pre term birth, macrosomia and APGAR score<7 at 1 min. The odds ratio (OR) IUGR and fetal weight <2.5kg are lower 0.83 and 0.87 respectively. The present study shows more anemia’s in asymptomatic mother who were beta thalassemia carrier. So thalassemia trait mother need special care during and after delivery. To reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes need nutritional supplementation, dietary modification and genetic counseling to the thalassemia trait mothers.

Anemia, thalassemia trait, outcome, Pregnancy

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