Articles Vol. 67 No. 6 25/06/2026

CLINICAL AND PARACLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND TREATMENT OUTCOMES OF THALASSEMIA IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE AT PEDIATRIC DEPARTMENT 1, LAO CAI PROVINCIAL GENERAL HOSPITAL NO. 1

Vu Thi Thuy Phuong1,2, Ha Hoai Nam1,2, Le Manh Hung1,2, Tran Lan Anh1,2, Dang Bach Yen1,2, Tran Tuyet Nhung1,2
1 Lao Cai Provincial General Hospital No. 1
2 Bệnh viện Đa khoa số 1 tỉnh Lào Cai
DOI: 10.52163/yhc.v67i6.5471
37 Views
20 Downloads
Keywords
Treatment outcomes, pediatric patients, Thalassemia
Abstract

Objective: Describes the clinical and paraclinical characteristics and evaluates the treatment outcomes of thalassemia in patients under 15 years of age at the Pediatric Department 1 – Lao Cai Provincial General Hospital No. 1.

Research methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 133 pediatric patients under 15 years of age with a confirmed diagnosis of thalassemia who were receiving treatment at Lao Cai Provincial General Hospital No. 1 from March 2025 to November 2025.

Results: The pediatric patients had a mean age of 8.6 ± 3.4 years. β-thalassemia was the predominant type (87.2%); most children were diagnosed after 1 year of age (80.5%) and commonly presented with severe anemia (73.7%) accompanied by marked iron overload (over 60% with ferritin >1500 ng/mL). Blood transfusion significantly improved hemoglobin levels from 69.1 ± 13.9 g/L to 100.09 ± 17.52 g/L (p < 0.05) and was relatively safe, with no severe complications recorded. However, treatment adherence remained limited, with adherence rates of 52.6% for regular blood transfusion and intravenous iron chelation, 27.1% for oral iron chelation, and 46.6% for regular follow-up, while irregular adherence was still high (61.7%).

Conclusion: Blood transfusions provide significant and safe improvements in hemoglobin levels, but treatment adherence rates, particularly to oral chelation therapy and follow-up appointments, remain low. Improved management, counseling, and family support are needed to enhance treatment efficacy and quality of life for children.

References
[1]
Thalassemia International Federation (TIF). Monitoring and Managing Iron Overload in Thalassemia. TIF Clinical Series. 2021. Google Scholar
[2]
World Health Organization. Genes and human disease. Available from: https://www.who.int/genomics/public/geneticdiseases. Google Scholar
[3]
Keskek, S.O., et al., Depression in subjects with beta-thalassemia minor. Ann Hematol, 2013. 92(12): p. 1611-5. Google Scholar
[4]
Trần Thị Ngọc Hòa., Đánh giá chất lượng sống liên quan đến sức khỏe của bệnh nhân Thalassemia tại Bệnh viện Trẻ em Hải Phòng. Tạp chí Nhi khoa, 2017. Google Scholar
[5]
Nguyễn Thị Thu Hiền., Đặc điểm lâm sàng và điều trị Thalassemia ở trẻ em tại Viện Huyết học – Truyền máu Trung ương. 2019. Google Scholar
[6]
Hồ Thị Thu Hà., Đặc điểm bệnh nhi Thalassemia điều trị tại Bệnh viện Nhi Trung ương. Tạp chí Y học Việt Nam, 2020: p. 45-52. Google Scholar
[7]
Nguyễn Thị Bích Ngọc., Đánh giá hiệu quả điều trị thải sắt ở bệnh nhân Thalassemia tại Bệnh viện Truyền máu – Huyết học TP.HCM. Bệnh viện Truyền máu – Huyết học TP.HCM, 2021. Google Scholar
[8]
Khadivi Heris, H., et al., Evaluation of iron overload by cardiac and liver T2* in beta-thalassemia: Correlation with serum ferritin, heart function and liver enzymes. J Cardiovasc Thorac Res, 2021. 13(1): p. 54-60. Google Scholar
[9]
Ngô Diễm Phương., Tuân thủ điều trị thải sắt ở trẻ thalassemia tại Bệnh viện Nhi Đồng: Thách thức và giải pháp. Tạp chí Huyết học Việt Nam, 2020. 12(3): p. 45-53. Google Scholar