The Impact and Disease Burden of Thalassemia in Thailand: A Population-Based Study in 2010
Nattiya Teawtrakul MD*, Kanchana Chansung MD*, Chittima Sirijerachai MD*, Chinadol Wanitpongpun MD*, Kaewjai Thepsuthammarat PhD**
Affiliation : * Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand ** Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen Universit, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Background : Thalassemia is a common genetic disease in Thailand. However, current data on the impact and disease
burden of thalassemia in Thailand remains limited.
Objective : To determine the admission rate, OPD visit rate, mortality rate, hospital cost, length of hospital stay, blood
transfusion rate and major complications rate in patients with thalassemia.
Material and Method: The present study analyzed the data of inpatients and outpatients with a diagnosis of thalssemia
according to ICD 10 coded D56, D56.0, D56.1, D56.2, D56.3, D56.4, D56.8 and D56.9 which came from nationwide health
financing schemes in the fiscal year 2010.
Results : The overall admission rate and OPD visit rate were 154 and 562 per 100,000 populations and higher in children and
adolescents. The overall mortality rate was 1.13 per 100,000 populations. The total healthcare cost was 744,998,997 Baht or
US$ 23,486,727 per year. Blood transfusion rate was significantly higher among children and adolescents. The thalassemia-
related complications commonly occurred at the second and the third decades of life.
Conclusion : The admission rate, OPD visit rate, blood transfusion rate were higher among children and adolescents. The
total healthcare cost was high which was nearly 745 million Baht per year. The hospital cost, length of stay and major
complications were increased with age.
Keywords : Thalassemia, Disease burden, Population-based study
