a Department of Clinical Microscopy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences , Chulalongkorn University , Bangkok , Thailand.
b Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences , Chulalongkorn University , Bangkok , Thailand.
Ethn Health. 2019 May;24(4):405-414. doi: 10.1080/13557858.2017.1346188. Epub 2017 Jul 1.
Anaemia is one of the most common health problems worldwide, with a high prevalence in Africa and South East Asia, including Thailand. Thai women of childbearing age have an increased risk of anaemia due to several factors including underlying health problems, lifestyles and poor diet. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of anaemia among female students of Chulalongkorn University (aged 18-22) and categorized causes of the anaemia.
400 Thai female student-volunteers, without known underlying diseases were subjected to blood tests; complete blood count, Haemoglobin typing and serum ferritin level. Bloods, having haemoglobin under 12 g/dl and hematocrit under 36%, were designated as anaemia. Then causes of anaemia are categorized into 3 groups; Iron deficiency, Thalassemia and Others.
We found that 21% of the volunteers were anaemic. In 85 anaemic volunteers, they were classified as Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA); with low serum ferritin levels 42.4%, Thalassemia; total of 6 types 25.9%, IDA and Thalassemia 2.3% and Others 29.4% in which haemoglobin typing and serum ferritin level were normal.
Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is the major cause of anaemia in Thai female students in our study. Several students were gradually developing anaemia where their haematocrit (Hct) and haemaglobin (Hb) were within reference range but mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemaglobin (MCH) and serum ferritin fell below reference range, indicating latent iron deficiency. A few volunteers had both IDA and Thalassemia and also Thalassemia with iron overloaded where health can be deteriorated without knowledge of having these conditions or proper health care. To improve their health, universities or public organizations should provide education and/or screen for anaemia. With the knowledge and understanding of their health issues or underling diseases, students themselves can prevent serious health conditions, improve university performances, and improve their quality of life.
贫血是全球最常见的健康问题之一，在非洲和东南亚地区（包括泰国）发病率很高。育龄期泰国女性由于潜在健康问题、生活方式和不良饮食等多种因素，患贫血的风险增加。因此，我们调查了朱拉隆功大学（年龄在 18-22 岁之间）女学生的贫血患病率，并对贫血的病因进行了分类。
400 名无潜在疾病的泰国女学生志愿者接受了血液检查；全血细胞计数、血红蛋白分型和血清铁蛋白水平。血红蛋白<12g/dl 和血细胞比容<36%的血液被指定为贫血。然后将贫血的病因分为 3 组；缺铁、地中海贫血和其他。
我们发现 21%的志愿者贫血。在 85 名贫血志愿者中，他们被归类为缺铁性贫血（IDA）；血清铁蛋白水平低 42.4%，地中海贫血；共 6 种 25.9%，IDA 和地中海贫血 2.3%，其他 29.4%血红蛋白分型和血清铁蛋白水平正常。
缺铁性贫血（IDA）是本研究中泰国女学生贫血的主要原因。一些学生的血细胞比容（Hct）和血红蛋白（Hb）在参考范围内，但平均红细胞体积（MCV）、平均红细胞血红蛋白（MCH）和血清铁蛋白低于参考范围，表明存在潜在的缺铁。少数志愿者同时患有 IDA 和地中海贫血，还有地中海贫血伴铁过载，如果不知道自己有这些情况或没有得到适当的保健，健康状况可能会恶化。为了改善他们的健康状况，大学或公共组织应该提供教育和/或筛查贫血。通过了解和理解他们的健康问题或潜在疾病，学生自己可以预防严重的健康状况，提高大学表现，并提高生活质量。
