Arjunan, Aishwarya
(2013)
Prevalence of the Beta-S Gene and Sickle Cell Disease in India.
Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
Introduction: Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), an inherited disorder of the red blood cells, is a major public health problem. India, with a population of 1.2 billion individuals, is estimated to be home to over 50% of the world’s patients with SCD. While SCD is common among all ethnic groups in India, high prevalence has been reported in three socio-economically disadvantaged ethnic categories: the Scheduled Castes (SC), the Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Class (OBC) groups.
Both the prevalence of the βs gene and the clinical phenotype of SCD have not been well described in these three population groups.
Objective: Our objective was two-fold: to determine the prevalence of the βs gene and to describe the clinical phenotype of SCD in the district of Nagpur, Maharashtra located in Central India.
Method: To determine the prevalence of the βs gene, community screening of target populations was conducted over an eight-year time span. To determine the clinical phenotype of SCD, a cohort of 726 patients was followed over a four and half year time period during which all clinical events presented to the hospital were recorded.
Results
Population Screening: Community wide screening of 35,636 individuals identified 5,437 individuals with sickle cell trait and 1,010 with SCD. The trait prevalence was 13%, 12%, and 3.4% for the SC, ST, and OBC groups respectively.
Clinical Phenotype: A total of 726 patients were followed in the comprehensive clinic over a four and a half year time period. Painful crisis and fever were the most common initial presentations and the leading causes of hospitalizations. These rates were also higher when compared to the published data from the Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease.
Implications for Public Health: The population screening program uncovered previously undiagnosed cases, and provided detailed information for population based disease counseling, prevention programs and comprehensive care programs. Additionally, we present evidence suggesting that SCD may not have milder manifestations in India and underscore the need for detailed studies of phenotype that can form the basis of public health interventions and mechanistic studies of genetic modifiers of clinical phenotype.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
27 June 2013 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
19 February 2013 |
| Approval Date: |
27 June 2013 |
| Submission Date: |
11 April 2013 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
52 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Human Genetics |
| Degree: |
MS - Master of Science |
| Thesis Type: |
Master's Thesis |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Sickle Cell Disease, Clinical Phenotype, Beta-S Gene |
| Date Deposited: |
27 Jun 2013 18:34 |
| Last Modified: |
15 Nov 2016 14:11 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/18295 |
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