GSTM1 and thalassemia: At baseline, children with a lower Hb concentration were younger, had longer illness durations, lower MUACs, an increased prevalence of splenomegaly, and were more frequently affected by either homozygous α-thalassaemia, HbSS, or G6PDd (either as heterozygous females or hemizygous males/homozygous females).