Quality of Life in Patients Suffering from Beta-Thalassemia Major in Amirkola, Iran

Thalassemia is regarded as a genetic hematologic disease that affects various aspects of patients’ life. Measuring the health-related quality of life is a multidimensional concept that focuses on the disease as well as its treatment.

This cross-sectional study consisted of 50 adolescents aged 12-18 years suffering from Thalassemia major, out of which 30 were females and 20 were males with the mean (±SD) age of 15.38(±2) years old. The present study was carried out applying the Kidscreen-27 health-related questionnaire.

There was no statistically significant difference between urban and rural patients’ scores (P-value=0.22). Comparison of quality of life amongst female and male patients indicated male patients'' better scores in regard with physical well-being, psychosocial well-being and the total score of quality of life compared to the females (P-value

The study findings revealed that there was neither a significant difference between urban and rural patients with thalassemia major, nor a relation between adolescent patients'' quality of life and their fathers’ education level. Nonetheless, male patients were demonstrated to have better quality of lifethan females.