Does Hakka ethnic group have higher incidence of thalassemia traits in Taiwanese population?

Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi (Taipei). 1992 Oct;50(4):288-92.

Abstract

The purpose of this survey is to find out whether Hakka group has higher incidence of thalassemia traits in our population. A total of 1,115 healthy employees from a company were screened by complete blood count (CBC) with indices. Those subjects with mean corpuscular volume (MCV) less than 80 fl were further evaluated by hemoglobin electrophoresis and modified hemoglobin H (Hb H) inclusion staining to confirm the diagnosis of beta- and alpha-thalassemia traits, respectively. We evaluated and compared the crude occurrence rates of thalassemia traits in Hakka, non-Hakka, and Taiwanese. Subjects with one or both Hakka parents had higher crude incidence of alpha-thalassemia traits than other groups of subjects, but this phenomenon wasn't found in beta-thalassemia traits.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Taiwan / epidemiology
  • alpha-Thalassemia / epidemiology
  • alpha-Thalassemia / ethnology*
  • beta-Thalassemia / epidemiology
  • beta-Thalassemia / ethnology*