Quality of Life Outcomes in a Pediatric Thalassemia Population in Egypt

AbstractThalassemia is a disorder of hemoglobin (Hb) synthesis characterized by chronic hemolysis. In β-thalassemias major (β-TM), patients require regular transfusion at an early age due to severe anemia. Subsequently, intensive chelation therapy is initiated to mitigate the effects of the resultant iron overload. Clinical disease burden and the demanding treatment can affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes in this population. The aim of this study was to assess HRQoL outcomes in Egyptian pediatric thalassemia patients. Patients were enrolled simultaneously from the hematology clinic at the National Research Institute in Cairo, Egypt. The Arabic version of SF36 tool was used to assess HRQoL outcomes. Socioeconomic data were collected by patient and parent interviews. Clinical data were collected by review of medical records. One hundred and thirty patients and 60 controls were enrolled, with a mean age of 5.4 ± 3.2 years and 6.3 ± 3.0, respectively. The HRQoL outcome scores were lower in ...