Cross-sectional studyindependent cross-checkabstract checked I-LEG-104 standard review
G6PD deficiency in six Middle Eastern groups in Kuwait
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in Kuwait, Syria, Egypt, Iran, Jordan and Lebanon.
Overview
Usanga EA, Ameen R. Hum Hered 2000 · PMID 10686492 · DOI 10.1159/000022906
Among men tested in Kuwait, 1.0% of Egyptians and 11.6% of Iranians were deficient.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: low
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Compare G6PD deficiency across origins.
- How was the study done?
Enzyme survey.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
3,501 men.
- What was actually found?
1.00% (Egyptians) to 11.55% (Iranians).
- How large was the observed effect?
Range only.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Frequency differs between populations and samples.
- What are the study's limitations?
Migrant sample; abstract only.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Adds nuance to C-LEG-03.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Limited.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
It cannot give the prevalence in Egypt itself.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- Usanga EA, Ameen R
- Journal
- Hum Hered
- Year
- 2000
- Identifier
- PMID 10686492 DOI 10.1159/000022906
- Verification
- verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-26 + Crossref works API
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- abstract only
- Conflicts of interest and funding
Not stated in abstract.
2. Research question
How is G6PD deficiency distributed among men of six Middle Eastern origins living in Kuwait?
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Cross-sectional study – Cross-sectional survey of red-cell G6PD activity and phenotype
- Population
3,501 male subjects of Kuwaiti, Egyptian, Iranian, Syrian, Lebanese and Jordanian origin living in Kuwait
- Country
Kuwait (migrant/ethnic groups incl. Egyptians)
- Period
Not stated in abstract
- Sample size
3,501 men
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Males only.
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
Not applicable
- Comparator
Ethnic groups
- Endpoints
G6PD deficiency frequency, phenotypes
- Statistical methods
Descriptive
5. Actual results
- Results
Deficiency ranged from 1.00% in Egyptians to 11.55% in Iranians; Gd(A) allele frequency 0.019 in Egyptians.
- Absolute risks
Not applicable
- Authors' conclusion
Distribution of G6PD deficiency varies widely among the groups.
6. Strengths
- Large male sample
- Quantitative enzyme activity
7. Weaknesses
- Egyptian subgroup size not given in abstract
- Migrant sample not representative of Egypt
- Abstract only
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- none applicable
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- some concerns
- Rationale
Convenience/migrant sampling.
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
A low point estimate in one migrant subgroup; differs from Egyptian newborn screening (I-LEG-102: 6.2% of boys).
10. Relevance to the specific claim
Shows that prevalence estimates for Egyptians vary by sample and method; the 'frequent in Egypt' statement is true on average but not uniform.
11. Independent contrary findings
I-LEG-102, I-LEG-07 (5.9% in Egyptian oases).
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
Limited.
13. Overall methodological judgement
A lower estimate that adds nuance; does not overturn the evidence that the deficiency is common in Egypt.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | low |
| Risk of bias | some concerns |
| Precision of results | low |
| Directness | indirect |
| Reproducibility | not replicated |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | inconsistent |
| Regional transferability | moderate |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | not applicable |
14. Open questions
Reasons for discrepancy (method, region of origin, selection).