Quality of life among adults with beta-thalassemia major in western Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

To assess the quality of life in the thalassemia adult patients and clarify how effective the management is of these patients and whether a change in care is warranted. In this cross-sectional study, adult thalassemia patients [>/= 18 years] of both genders, attending the day care unit in King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeeddah, Saudi Arabia were surveyed using SF-36 questionnaire. Data were collected between October 2012 and December 2012. The questions highlighted 3 health status scales; physical functioning [PF], emotional functioning [EF], and social functioning [SF]. Scores were analyzed using SPSS. Forty-eight adults were surveyed [mean +/- SD 26.02 +/- 5.56]. These were made up of 60.4% males and 41.7% were Saudis. The frequency of blood transfusion was every 3 weeks in 81.3% of patients, but 18.8% were having transfusions less frequently. Half of our sampled patients were splenectomized [54.2%]. The PF score for the total sample was 61.4 [SD=22.7], the SF score was 75 [SD=26.4] and the EF score was 69.7 [SD= 21.6]; the SF and EF scores were lower in females and non-Saudis compared to male Saudis. The PF score in our sample was low compared to other regional studies; the SF and EF scores were low in females and non-Saudis