Epidemiology of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in 10 malaria-endemic countries in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review.

Introduction: it is now clear that several antimalarials, such as primaquine, can cause severe hemolytic anemia in people with G6PD deficiency. Prescriptions for antimalarials should consider G6PD status, especially in malaria-endemic areas. The frequency of G6PD is quite high in some countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: a systematic review was conducted to summarize the findings on the G6PD deficiency epidemiology in the ten African nations most impacted by malaria. We conducted a systematic electronic literature search based on eligibility requirements using databases, PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. The chosen studies are original or primary studies published in English or French and evaluate the prevalence of G6PD deficiency or its incidence, in a peer-reviewed scientific journal during the interval of time 2000-2023 were included in this review. The systematic review was carried out by using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). Results: after being screened, 19 complete texts were deemed appropriate for extracting data. The prevalence of G6PD deficiency varied among these ten African countries, ranging from <1% to 23.9%, with a considerable dominance when it comes to men in comparison with women. Conclusion: to avoid morbidity and mortality among the population in the affected areas, several regions in African countries must review their diagnostic and screening protocols to detect deficiency in G6PD to make proper interventions in time.