Factors Affecting Health-related Quality of Life Among Thalassemia Patients, 2020, Sana’a-Yemen

Abstract

Abstract Background: Identifying and understanding the variables that influence health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with thalassemia is critical to creating more appropriate clinical, counseling, and social support programs to develop treatment results for these individuals. The purpose of this investigation is to investigate the variables that are related with HRQOL in thalassemic patients in Yemen. Methods: From July to September 2020, a descriptive, cross-sectional investigation was carried out among Thalassemia patients who attended the Yemen Society for Thalassemia. a total of 344 individuals with Thalassemia between the ages of 5 and 18 years old. Data were gathered by utilizing the Pediatric Quality of Life 4.0 as face to face interview with children and their parents. The scale consisted of four domains (Physical, emotional, social, and school functioning) and other related demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients. coefficient tests as appropriate. Two-tailed, p-value <0.05 was regarded statistically considerable.Results:The findings of the investigation displayed that the Thalassemia patients were males with a percentage of (54.9%)Thetotal HRQoL mean score was found to be (50.6±16.5) with the highest mean scores in the social (69.3±20.2) and emotional (55.9±20.7) functioning domains. There was correlation between age, education, residency, and total HRQoL scores, which was statistically significant (P-value<0.05). There was correlation between iron overload complications, pre-transfusion Hb level, received iron chelation, and total HRQoL scores (P-value<0.05).Conclusions:Appropriate programs focused at providing psychological support to thalassemia patients are needed to improve their HRQoL. The results also supported the significance of keeping a pretransfusion hemoglobin level of at least 9-10.5 g/dL prior to the transfusion procedure.