Prevalence of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficiency across Tribal, Non-Tribal, and Mixed Populations in Northeast India: A Review

Abstract

The paper aims to highlight the prevalence of G6PD deficiency among various populations in Northeast India. This region, including Nagaland, Assam, and Manipur, shows significant rates of G6PD deficiency. Populations such as the Angami Naga of Nagaland (27.06%), Muslims of Manipur (21.32%), Mizos of Mizoram (17.5%) and the Rabha and Mikir populations of Assam exhibit a high frequency of G6PD deficiency, exceeding 15%, with an overall regional prevalence of 6.56%. The overall frequency of G6PD deficiency is higher among the tribal populations (8.37%), while non-tribal populations show 4.40% and mixed populations 4.88%. These differences are statistically significant, as indicated by chi-square values of 27.4397 (p<0.00001) and 16.9447 (p=0.000038) respectively. The frequency trends reflect a complex interplay of genetic factor and environmental pressures, particularly malaria in the region.