The α-thalassemias represent a global health problem with a growing burden.11 A refined knowledge of the molecular basis of α-thalassemia53,54 will be fully relevant from a public health perspective only if it is complemented by detailed epidemiologic data. To ensure appropriate care of patients and the sustainability of health care systems, more effort must be put into obtaining evidence-based estimates of affected populations, providing resources for the prevention, control, and management of the thalassemias, and performing cost-effectiveness analyses.28 Such goals will be achieved only through a concerted effort by the research and medical communities and the support of international funding agencies to collect and share epidemiologic data.55 The recent inclusion of hemoglobinopathies in the Global Burden of Disease Study56 and the assessment of the burden of α-thalassemia in terms of DALYs will be meaningful only if contemporary and reliable data are available.
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 09:52:32 +0000
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