Hemoglobinopathies: An update on the prevalence trends in Southern Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVES: To investigate trends in hemoglobinopathies following the establishment of a mandatory premarital screening program (MPMSP) in the southern region of Saudi Arabia, where they are considered highly predominant. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on data from 32,130 high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) tests between November 2017 and October 2020. The data was obtained from the Hematology section, Laboratory Department, Armed Forces Hospital, Southern Region. RESULTS: Despite the establishment of the MPMSP, our data showed that sickle cell disease remains a predominant hemoglobinopathy accounting for more than 7% of total tests in Southern Saudi Arabia. Observed HPLC hemoglobin fractions among the tested population showed a reduction in Hb A mean indicating a high rate of hemoglobin abnormalities. In addition, the prevalence of hemoglobin variants, including sickle cell and thalassemia, was higher in the younger population born after the MPMSP than in older subjects. CONCLUSION: Even with the implementation of the MPMSP, hemoglobin abnormalities remain prevalent in southern Saudi Arabia. A longer time frame is recommended to verify the validity of the program.