Quality of Life in Transfusion Dependent Thalassaemia Patients on Desferrioxamine Treatment

Dahlui, Maznah, Hishamshah, Mohd Ibrahim, Rahman, AJ and Aljunid, Syed M., (2009). Quality of Life in Transfusion Dependent Thalassaemia Patients on Desferrioxamine Treatment. Medicine and Medical Sciences, 50(6), 794-799

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  • Sub-type Journal article
    Author Dahlui, Maznah
    Hishamshah, Mohd Ibrahim
    Rahman, AJ
    Aljunid, Syed M.
    Title Quality of Life in Transfusion Dependent Thalassaemia Patients on Desferrioxamine Treatment
    Appearing in Medicine and Medical Sciences
    Volume 50
    Issue No. 6
    Publication Date 2009-08-01
    Place of Publication N/A
    Publisher Singapore Med J
    Start page 794
    End page 799
    Language English
    Abstract INTRODUCTION: The quality of life of transfusion-dependent thalassaemia patients is affected by the disease itself and iron overload complications from repeated blood transfusion. Desferrioxamine has been used to remove the excess iron, resulting in decreased mortality and morbidity. In Malaysia, a significant proportion of the transfusion-dependent thalassaemia patients are not prescribed desferrioxamine, due to its high cost, especially as it is not subsidized by the government. The aim of this study was to measure the quality of life of thalassaemia patients on desferrioxamine treatment. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed on all transfusion-dependent thalassaemia patients on follow-up at two tertiary hospitals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2005. Quality-of-life scores were measured by using the translated MOS SF-36 questionnaires, while diseases related to iron overload complications were obtained from the medical records. Use of desferrioxamine was elicited through interviews and validated by drug records. Quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) presented were formulated from residual life-years and quality-of-life scores. RESULTS: A total of 112 transfusion-dependent thalassaemia patients were recruited, with 54 (48 percent) and 58 (52 percent) patients on sub-optimum and optimum desferrioxamine treatments, respectively. QALYs were higher in patients on optimum desferrioxamine (9.04, standard deviation [SD] 2.46) than patients on sub-optimum desferrioxamine (5.12, SD 2.51). QALYs were associated with the level of serum ferritin, iron overload complications and total family income. CONCLUSION: Optimum desferrioxamine usage reduces iron overload complications and provides a better quality of life.
    Copyright Holder N/A
    Copyright Year 2009
    Copyright type All rights reserved
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    Created: Wed, 11 Jun 2014, 16:20:01 JST