Evaluation of Growth Characteristics and Contributing Factors in Individuals with β-Thalassemia Major
Archives of Advances in Biosciences,
Vol. 17 No. 1 (2026),
28 April 2026
,
Page 1-10
https://doi.org/10.22037/aab.v17i1.52424
Abstract
Background: Growth problems are prevalent in children with β-thalassemia major and stem from a combination of various underlying causes. This study looked at height and weight status and what factors were linked to them in children with β-thalassemia major.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study done with 80 children who have β-thalassemia major in Jiroft in 2024. We gathered information from their medical files using a checklist we created ourselves. It covered basic details about the children, their height and weight measurements, and serum ferritin levels. We used National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) growth charts to evaluate the growth parameters. All analysis was done in SPSS version 22 with descriptive statistics and the right inferential tests; we took p < 0.05 as significant.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 12.1 ± 3.4 years. Overall, 78.7% of the children had a height-for-age below the 50th percentile, including 40.0% below the 5th percentile. Similarly, 87.6% had a weight-for-age below the 50th percentile, including 30.0% below the 5th percentile. Growth disorder was significantly associated with age (P = 0.006), whereas no statistically significant association was observed with sex (P = 0.246). Serum ferritin levels were ≥1,000 μg/L in 95.0% of the participants. Although the mean serum ferritin level was higher among children with growth disorder than among those without growth disorder, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.551).
Discussion: These results indicate a high rate of growth failure that worsens as the children get older. This likely reflects the cumulative effects of the disease and/or its treatment over time.
Conclusion: Growth impairment is highly prevalent among children with β-thalassemia major in Jiroft and becomes increasingly pronounced with age. Early and regular assessments, together with comprehensive management approaches, are essential to minimize potential long-term growth-related complications.
- Beta Thalassemia
- Growth Disorders
- Child Development
- Iron Overload
- Ferritins
How to Cite
References
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