Higher Hospitalization Rate for Lower Airway Infection in Transfusion-Naïve Thalassemia Children

Few studies have addressed the risk of infection in transfusion-naïve thalassemia patients. We aimed to investigate whether transfusion-naïve thalassemia population has higher hospitalization rates for lower airway infection-related diseases than non-thalassemia population in children. A nationwid...

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Main Authors: Ti-An Tsai (Author), Chang-Ku Tsai (Author), Yao-Hsu Yang (Author), Zon-Min Lee (Author), Jiunn-Ming Sheen (Author), Yi-Chen Lee (Author), Chih-Min Tsai (Author), Chih-Cheng Chen (Author), Chih-Hao Chang (Author), Chen-Kuang Niu (Author), Hong-Ren Yu (Author)
Format: Book
Published: Frontiers Media S.A., 2020-11-01T00:00:00Z.
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Summary:Few studies have addressed the risk of infection in transfusion-naïve thalassemia patients. We aimed to investigate whether transfusion-naïve thalassemia population has higher hospitalization rates for lower airway infection-related diseases than non-thalassemia population in children. A nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted using detailed medical records of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Transfusion-naïve thalassemia patients were compared with a matched cohort at a ratio of 1:4. Data of the selected patients were adjusted for age, sex, and related comorbidities. We recorded the frequency of admissions or outpatient clinic visits for patients with a diagnosis of pneumonia or acute bronchitis/bronchiolitis. Based on our results, the hospitalization rates and incidence rate ratios of bronchitis/bronchiolitis and pneumonia for transfusion-naïve thalassemia children were all higher than those for non-thalassemia controls. Therefore, we conclude that transfusion-naïve thalassemia children are more likely to experience lower airway infections and have a higher probability of hospitalization for these conditions.
Item Description:2296-2360
10.3389/fped.2020.574014