Prevalence of Gingivitis in Beta Thalassemia Major Patients- A Study amongst Pakistani Adults

Aims: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of gingivitis in patients suffering from Beta Thalassemia Major.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Sample: Sundus Foundation, a voluntary blood transfusion center in Lahore, Pakistan, between March 2017 and September 2017.

Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study had a total of 110 cases of beta thalassemia major, 15-35 years of either gender were included. Patients with immunosuppressive therapy or anti- inflammatory therapy, smokers and partially erupted teeth, retained roots, teeth with periapical lesion were excluded. Demographic profile of all the patients was recorded and a thorough dental checkup will be carried out. A single clinician carried out the clinical examination for all the subjects using WHO probe. Frequency of gingivitis was recorded.

Results: The mean age of participants was 22.10 ± 5.37 years. The majority of the patients 77 (70.0%) were between 15 to 25 years of age. Out of the 110 patients, 59 (53.64%) were male and 51 (46.36%) were females with male to female ratio of 1.1:1. Gingivitis was found in 102 (92.73%) cases, whereas there was gingivitis in 08 (7.27%) cases.

Conclusion: This study concluded that the prevalence of gingivitis in patients suffering from Beta Thalassemia Major is very high.