covid-19 serological status in beta-thalassemia patients in iran: a retrospective descriptive study

Background: patients with beta-thalassemia (bt) are more prone to infections than others, especially when they have some risk factors. some reports showed the lower severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) infection in this population. objectives: in this study, we aimed to determine the serological status of covid-19 in bt patients. methods: this cross-sectional study was conducted in september 2020-february 2021 at ali-asghar children's hospital, iran. all major and intermedia β-thalassemia patients dependent on blood transfusion were enrolled in this study. demographic information, including age, gender, thalassemia type, history of splenectomy, and blood type, were recorded in a checklist. moreover, the patients were asked about their exposure to covid-19, and the related symptoms, such as cough, fever, headache, and anosmia, in the last six months. the enrolled cases were examined for anti-covid-19 igm and igg to determine the serological status against this virus. results: the positive igg and igm tests against covid-19 were in 35.7% (25/70) and 20% (14/70) of cases, respectively, while 42.9% (30/70) were either igm- or igg-positive. among the serologically positive cases, six had a history of at least one symptom suspicious of covid-19. these six included one fever, two coughs, one anosmia, one dyspnea, and one cough and anosmia. only one of the patients was hospitalized (1%) with fever and dyspnea. no intensive care unit admission or mortality was reported. conclusions: it seems that covid-19 is more likely to be mild or asymptomatic in patients with bt.