Introduction
Inherited hemoglobin disorders, anemia, monogenic disease, beta thalassemia, hemoglobinopathies, depressed, thalassemia
HEMOGLOBINOPATHIES, ANEMIA, INEFFECTIVE ERYTHROPOIESIS, BETA THALASSEMIA, HEMOGLOBINOPATHIES, HEMOGLOBIN DISORDERS, IRON DEFICIENCY, THALASSEMIA, IRON OVERLOAD
Inherited hemoglobin disorders affect an estimated 7% of the population worldwide and are considered the most common monogenic disease, with 300,000–500,000 infants born each year with symptomatic conditions [Hemoglobinopathies fall under two main categories: structural hemoglobin variants, including sickle cell – in which the structure of the hemoglobin molecule is altered – and thalassemia – in which hemoglobin synthesis (either the alpha or beta globin chain) is impaired [Carriers of hemoglobin disorders may be asymptomatic or have only mild anemia and may thus be unaware of their condition. However, even silent carriers of thalassemia have been shown to exhibit altered iron metabolism and ineffective erythropoiesis, which may lead to iron overload over time due to depressed levels of hepcidin [Unfortunately, data on the population prevalence of hemoglobinopathies in Bangladesh are scarce. Most reports have come from clinic-based samples which are not representative of the population and most assess only beta thalassemia and hemoglobin E [Estimates of inherited hemoglobin disorders could also play a role in better understanding anemia etiology in the country. In Bangladesh, reports of high anemia alongside low iron deficiency prevalence have called into question the assumption that the primary cause of anemia in this setting is iron deficiency [