SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with β-thalassemia: The French experience.

Introduction: Because of iron overload complications, thrombosis and infectious predisposition, patients with severe forms of thalassemia are likely to be at increased risk of COVID-19 complications.

Results: A national survey conducted during the year 2020 across the French reference centers for hemoglobinopathies identified 16 cases of COVID-19 confirmed by RT-PCR in beta-thalassemia patients. Their age ranged from 11 months to 60 years.