BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hypoparathyroidism is one the common complications of endocrine in patients with thalassemia major. Several studies have been conducted to report the prevalence of hypoparathyroidism in patients with thalassemia major in Iran. However, there is no comprehensive assessment of it. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Hypoparathyroidism in patients with thalassemia major in Iran through systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHOD: The present study was conducted based on PRISMA checklist for systematic review and meta-analysis studies. We searched national and international online databases such as Magiran, Iranmedex, SID, Medlib, Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Cochrane, Web of Science, Springer, Online library Wiley and Google Scholar for certain standard keywords without time limit until 2016.

FINDING: In 19 studies, 3219 patients with thalassemia major were examined. Prevalence of hypoparathyroidism in patients with thalassemia major in Iran was calculated to be 10% (CI-95%: 7-10). Moreover, the percentage for various regions of Iran was different; 14% in the west, 18% in the east, 10% in the north, 12% in the south and 7% in the center of Iran. Prevalence of Hypoparathyroidism in men and women was estimated to be 9 and 14, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of hypoparathyroidism in patients with thalassemia major in Iran is high. Therefore, new policy and planning are necessary to minimize the complications of endocrine glands including Hypoparathyroidism in patients with thalassemia major in Iran