Source
Oman Medical Journal, v. 39, no. 2, e613 p. [1-11].
English abstract
Objectives: The impact of beta-thalassemia major (β-TM) on health-related quality of
life (HRQoL) in Oman is not yet known. Affected individuals suffer from a wide range
of physical, mental, and social consequences due to the need for regular hospital visits
for blood transfusions and complications related to iron overload. This study aimed to
assess the HRQoL of adult patients with β-TM attending a single tertiary care center
in Muscat, Oman, to identify factors influencing Omani patients’ QoL for improved
management and counseling. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among
adult patients (≥ 18 years) with β-TM at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital between
September and November 2022. A validated Arabic version of the self-reported 36-item
short-form health survey was used to determine HRQoL. Results: A total of 78 patients
with β-TM were enrolled in the study; 53.8% were male and the mean age was 26.0±0.8
years, ranging from 21–53 years. Most patients were from Al Batinah North governorate
(n = 21; 26.9%) and Muscat (n = 20; 25.6%), unmarried (n = 44; 56.4%), did not have
university-level education (n = 45; 57.7%), and were unemployed (n = 44; 56.4%). The
HRQoL domain with the highest score was role limitations due to emotional problems
(median score = 100), while general health and vitality received the lowest scores (mean
scores were 60.2±15.9 and 59.1±20.5, respectively). Several variables were associated
with better HRQoL in certain domains, including being married, having a high level
of education, being employed, exercising regularly, and receiving family support (p
< 0.05). However, iron overload and having ≥ 3 β-TM-related disease complications
were associated with poorer general health scores (p = 0.031 and 0.038, respectively),
while a history of mental issues was associated with poorer scores in six out of eight
HRQoL domains (p < 0.05). Moreover, negative perceptions regarding the social
impact of the disease including delayed marriage, workplace difficulties, and reduced
academic achievement were associated with poorer HRQoL in various domains (p <
0.05). Conclusions: Although the studied sample reported generally good QoL, several
factors were found to affect HRQoL in various domains. Healthcare providers should
prioritize maintaining acceptable iron overload levels in Omani patients with β-TM to
help avoid the development of disease-related complications, thereby ensuring better
control of their clinical conditions and consequently improving their HRQoL.
