Fertility and endocrinopathies among adults with β-thalassemia major treated at Dubai thalassemia center
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By
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Rabah Almahmoud
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Amal Hussein
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Fatheya Al Khaja
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Ahmed Farrag Soliman
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Hany Dewedar
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Sarah Mathai
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July 2, 2026
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Objective:
To describe different endocrinopathies among adults with β-thalassemia major treated at the Dubai Thalassemia Center.
Approach:
- Study Design: Observational retrospective cohort study of adult patients with β-thalassemia major aged above 18 years from electronic medical records.
- Sample Size: 200 adults with β-thalassemia major were enrolled, with 54.5% females and 45.5% males.
- Data Collection Period: Data was collected from November 2019 to May 2021.
Key Findings:
- Prevalence of hypogonadism was 23%, diabetes mellitus 15%, hypothyroidism 11%, hypoparathyroidism 9%, and short stature 1.5%.
- Annual average pre-transfusion hemoglobin level was 9 gm/dL in 81.5% of patients.
- Mean height for males was 165.4 cm and for females was 154.11 cm.
Interpretation:
Endocrinopathies remain a significant concern for adults with β-thalassemia major.
Limitations:
- Retrospective design may limit the ability to establish causation.
- Data limited to a single treatment center may affect generalizability.
Conclusion:
The study highlights the ongoing prevalence of endocrinopathies in β-thalassemia major patients.
