Evolution of Thalassaemia Management Four Decades in Thalassaemia Care – Our Achievements and Challenges

Thalassaemia screening

The prevalence of thalassaemia carrier state in Hong Kong is high. A landmark study in 1997 reported 5% carrier rate for alpha-thalassaemia of whom 4.5% were carriers of the Southeast Asian types of deletion, and 3.4% carrier for beta-thalassaemia and HbE combined. Ref. 3 A subsequent study that included also silent thalassaemia carriers showed 12.5% carrier rate overall that translates into one out of eight of the Hong Kong citizens in the community.

Thalassaemia screening is important to identify couples who are at risk of offspring affected by severe thalassaemia. Pre-pregnancy and pre-conception thalassaemia screening are offered by the Family Planning Association and by medical practitioners, while obstetricians provide antenatal screening for thalassaemia. The Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists published a guideline of antenatal thalassaemia screening in 2003. There is a high degree of awareness on thalassaemia screening in Hong Kong and how severe thalassaemia is prevented.