Table 1 Demographic Characteristics of Thalassaemia patients

Age, y+

11.95 (4.3)

13.2 (2.8)

p = 0.004

Gender*

p = 0.311

Female

34 (43.6)

118 (50.2)

Range

5–7 years

8 (18.2)

7 (6.0)

8–12 years

19 (43.2)

47 (40.2)

13–18 years

17 (38.6)

63 (53.8)

Male

44 (56.4)

117 (49.8)

Range

5–7 years

6 (17.6)

6 (5.1)

8–12 years

14 (41.2)

21 (17.8)

13–18 years

14 (41.2)

91 (77.1)

Ethnicity*

Malay

56 (71.8)

136 (57.9)

p = 0.001

Chinese

16 (20.5)

53 (22.5)

Indian

1 (1.3)

40 (17.0)

Others

5 (6.4)

6 (2.6)

Religion*

p = 0.001

Islam

57 (73.1)

138 (58.7)

Buddha

14 (17.9)

44 (18.7)

Hindu

1 (1.3)

34 (14.5)

Christian

2 (2.6)

17 (7.2)

Others

4 (5.1)

2 (0.9)

Educational* Level

p < 0.001

Not at School

4 (5.1)

0 (0.0)

Pre School

5 (6.4)

0 (0.0)

Primary (1–6)

38 (48.7)

81 (34.5)

Secondary (1–5)

18 (23.1)

150 (63.8)

Sixth Form

2 (2.6)

4 (1.7)

Finish School

11 (14.1)

0 (0.0)

Household* Income (RM)

p < 0.001

<500

2 (2.6)

3 (1.3)

500–1000

16 (20.4)

27 (11.5)

1000–1500

19 (24.4)

38 (16.2)

1500–2000

19 (24.4)

25 (10.6)

>2000

21 (26.9)

138 (58.7)

Missing

1 (1.3)

4 (1.7)