Frequency of low bone mineral density and osteoporosis in children with beta thalassemia major

Background: beta-thalassemia is a hereditary disease due to unbalanced globin chain synthesis with ineffective erythropoiesis and increased peripheral hemolysis. expansion of bone marrow cavity results in osteoporosis. bone disease in thalassemia is manifested as diffuse bone pain,scoliosis,spinal deformities,nerve compression,spontaneous fractures,and severe osteoporosis. aims: to determine the frequency of low bone mineral density in children with beta thalassemia major and to determine the frequency of osteoporosis in children with beta thalassemia major having low bone mineral density study design: cross-sectional survey setting : thalassemia centre,sir ganga ram hospital,lahore. methods: children with beta-thalassemia major visiting opd of the department of paediatrics sir ganga ram hospital,matching the inclusion criteria were enrolled. low bone mineral density was calculated by dexa scanning that was done from mayo hospital. results were read by the researcher as bone mineral density z-score less than or equal to -2.0 and osteoporosis was labelled as z-score less than or equal to -2.5. data was collected by written proforma and low bone mineral density was calculated. result: majority of the patients were recorded between 9-10 years of age i.e.,42(28%),mean and sd was calculated as 8.23±2.67. male were 80(53.33%) and female were 70(46.67%). frequency of low bone mineral density in children with beta thalassemia major was recorded in 73(49%) and frequency of osteoporosis was recorded in 71(47.33%). conclusion: the frequency of low bone mineral density and osteoporosis is high among children with beta thalassemia major. so,it is recommended that every child suffering from beta thalassemia major should be sort out for low bone mineral density and osteoporosis.