Prevalence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency among neonates with hyperbillirubinemia in the West of Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Hyperbilirubinemia is a common complication among neonates. The objective of this cross-sectional study was the prevalence of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency among neonates with hyperbilirubinemia in the west of Iran. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, the records of neonates with hyperbilirubinemia who were hospitalised in Hamadan located in the west of Iran, from 2011 to 2016 were reviewed. After reviewing and studying each of the mentioned files, the necessary information was entered in the relevant checklists. Then, the neonates were divided into two groups, including the group with G6PD enzyme deficiency in the case study group and the G6PD enzyme-free group in the control study group. All statistical analyses were conducted in SPSS version 21 software and P < 0.05 was statistically considered significant. Results: A total of 1545 neonates with hyperbilirubinemia was reviewed. Among them, 40 neonates were in the case group and 1505 were in the control group. The prevalence of G6PD deficiency in the present study was 2.58% among neonates with hyperbilirubinemia which has a similar gender distribution. There were statistically significant differences between case and control groups based on total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, reticulocyte count, time of appearance of jaundice, duration of receiving phototherapy and hospitalisation (P < 0.05). Conclusion: We proposed that cord blood G6PD screening be conducted among neonates. This can be affected in identifying G6PD-deficient neonates who might require a longer hospital stay after birth, with monitoring of their serum bilirubin before and after discharge.

Keywords

• glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
• glucose phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
• neonatal hyperbilirubinemia
• prevalence