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Review
. 2020 Oct;105(4):378-386.
doi: 10.1111/ejh.13476. Epub 2020 Jul 13.

COVID-19 and thalassaemia: A position statement of the Thalassaemia International Federation

Dimitrios Farmakis  1 , Anastasios Giakoumis  2 , Lily Cannon  3 , Michael Angastiniotis  3 , Androulla Eleftheriou  3
Affiliations
Review

COVID-19 and thalassaemia: A position statement of the Thalassaemia International Federation

Dimitrios Farmakis et al. Eur J Haematol. 2020 Oct.

Abstract

Objectives: Many patients with haemoglobinopathies, including thalassaemia and sickle cell disease, are at increased risk of developing severe complications from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Although epidemiologic evidence concerning the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection in these patients is currently lacking, the COVID-19 pandemic represents a significant challenge for haemoglobinopathy patients, their families and their attending physicians.

Methods: The present statement summarizes the key challenges concerning the management of haemoglobinopathies, with particular focus on patients with either transfusion-dependent or non-transfusion-dependent thalassaemia, identifies the gaps in knowledge and suggests measures and strategies to deal with the pandemic, based on available evidence and expert opinions. Key areas covered include patients' risk level, adaptation of haemoglobinopathy care, safety of blood transfusions, blood supply challenges, and lifestyle and nutritional considerations.

Conclusions: The proposed measures and strategies may be useful as a blueprint for other disorders which require regular hospital visits, as well as for the timely adaptation of patient care during similar future pandemics.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus; haemoglobinopathies; pandemic; thalassaemia.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Strategies to enhance information sharing between healthcare professionals and patients and their families by developing communication channel and tools (A), setting up a protocol for answering patient queries (B) and maintaining a regular flow of quality information to patients (C) [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Patient pathways during the pandemic: general pathway (left panel) and transfusion‐dependent patient pathway (right panel) [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
A proposed algorithm for the diagnosis of COVID‐19 in patients with haemoglobinopathies [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. World Health Organization (WHO) . WHO COVID‐19 Dashboard. https://who.sprinklr.com. Accessed May 12, 2020
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    1. Thalassaemia International Federation . Guidelines for the Management of Non‐Transfusion Dependent Thalassaemias, 2nd ed. Nicosia, Cyprus: Thalassaemia International Federation; 2017.
    1. Farmakis D, Giakoumis A, Angastiniotis M, Eleftheriou A. The changing epidemiology of the ageing thalassaemia populations: a position statement of the Thalassaemia International Federation. Eur J Haematol. 2020;105(1):16‐23. 10.1111/ejh.13410 - DOI - PubMed
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