Quality of life in Iranian Beta-thalassemia major patients of southern coastwise of the Caspian Sea

Abstract

In the present study, the aim is to explore the nature of quality of life according to age, sex, school performance, severity and complications of the disease in thalassemia major (TM) patients. Method: A Cross-section descriptive study was conducted. In this study, quality of life evaluated by four questionnaires; demographic characteristics, the short form 36 health survey (SF-36), Persian version of symptoms checklist-90-revised (SCL-90-R), life satisfaction index (LSI). Results: 687 (41.08%) of all eligible patients with TM completed the questionnaires. In order to SF-36 questionnaire, 329 participants (47.9%) had excellent level for physical functioning. In order to SCL-90-R questionnaire, 446 participants (64.9%) had global severity index of more than 0.7 taken as psychiatric patients, 141 participants (20.5%) had GSI between 0.4 to 0.7 taken as suspected psychiatric patients and 100 participants (14.6%) had GSI of less than 0.4 taken as non-psychiatric patients. The mean scores of LSI questionnaire was 20.50±5.95 with a range of 2 to 37. Conclusion: Beta-thalassemia major patients are at risk for psychiatric symptomatology and need appropriated psychiatric consults.