Abstract
Background: Thalassemia is a common genetic disorder on a global scale. Individuals with transfusion dependent beta-thalassemia experience a range of physical, psychological, and social disorders that ultimately result in a diminished quality of life.
Aim of study: To assess Health related quality of life in adult patients with transfusion dependent beta-thalassemia and to correlate it with various clinical parameters.
Methods: This study is designed as a case-control study involving 80 adult individuals transfusion dependent beta-thalassemia at Ibn Al-Atheer Hospital in Mosul city, along with 80 individuals who are considered healthy controls. To assess the Health-Related Quality of Life score, the researchers utilized the RAND Short Form 36 Questionnaire.
Results: In this study 32 men and 48 women were included. The mean age was 23.8 years ±5.9. After reviewing the patients' quality of life, it was observed that the mean score for physical function was 79.7±15.7%, role of limitations due to physical health problem was 66.9±30.9%, role of limitation due to emotional problem was 73.3±43.3%, energy fatigue was 65.5±29.4%, social function was 77.27±18.6%, pain was 72.2±18.6%, general health was 54.1±22.4%, emotional wellbeing was 58.2±26.8% and overall mean was 67.9±17.8% were significantly lower than healthy controls. The role of limitation due to emotional problem and emotional wellbeing were significantly lower in male compared to female patients with p-value of (0.004, 0.02) respectively.
Conclusion: In this study the Health Related Quality of Life in adults with transfusion dependent beta-thalassemia was reduced in all domains of short form 36 scores.
