Prevalence of G6PD deficiency in Iran, a mata-analysis.

Search results show that numerous primary studies have been carried out in different parts of Iran regarding prevalence of G6PD deficiency; if results of these studies are combined, a reliable estimation of prevalence of this factor will be achieved in Iran. Thus, present study, aimed to determine the prevalence of G6PD deficiency by combining findings of qualified primary studies using meta-analysis and taking into account heterogeneity considerations. Searching the relevant keywords in Iranian and International databases, primary studies were selected. After quality appraisal and applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, relevant primary studies were selected. In each study, standard error of prevalence of G6PD was calculated according to binominal distribution formula. Finally, heterogeneity index was determined among studies using Cochran's test. Prevalence of G6PD in Iran was estimated by STATA software ver 11 using fixed or random effect model based on heterogeneity results. 148916 subjects in 36 primary studies which entered this meta-analysis were examined. G6PD deficiency prevalence was 6.7% in Iran (men: 8.8% and women: 2.2%). Also, this deficiency in the present study was four times higher in men than in women. Its prevalence was adjusted in different parts of Iran and it was shown that it was between 0.8 and 15.2 using Bayesian analysis. This meta-analysis showed that Iran is among countries with high frequency of G6PD deficiency and there is a significant difference in prevalence of G6PD in different parts of Iran. According to these results, screening newborn children seems very vital. Carrying out other primary studies regarding prevalence of G6PD seems unnecessary.