Abstract

*Prakas K. Mandal, Avriti Baveja, Kanjaksha Ghosh and Tuphan K. Dolai

ABSTRACT

Background: A subset of patients with Haemoglobinopathies require regular blood transfusions along with adequate iron chelation therapy (ICT) throughout their life. Access to regular and safe blood transfusions has always been an issue of concern for thalassemia patients. Corona virus disease (COVID-19) pandemic fueled the crisis in blood transfusion service across the world endangering these patients particularly in developing world where the condition is common and transfusion service is not up to the mark. With the lockdown in our country with travel restrictions, demand and supply has become precarious for the life of thalassemic patients. Materials and Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of the transfusion records of thalassemia patients attending the thalassemia day care centre in one of the largest medical colleges from West Bengal, India. Status of transfusion in thalassemics during the COVID-19 pandemic was recorded from 25st March 2020 to 24th July 2020 (=4 months) and this was compared with the status of transfusions for the same period in the preceding two years. Results: This study identified that average number of transfusions for thalassemia patients from study duration in 2020 is 6.91/day. The average number of transfusions for this duration of COVID 19 pandemic have significantly reduced from the transfusion in previous years occurring at the same stipulated time (p- value<0.05) in the thalassemia patients. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has overtly hampered the transfusion services and care in thalassaemic patients.