Heart complications in patients with beta-thalassemia in the city of Zabol

Given the prevalence of thalassemia in our country, especially in the province of Sistan and Baluchestan and considering that cardiac complication due to iron overload is the main cause of death in these patients, we decided to assessment cardiac complications in patients with thalassemia in Zabol. It should be noted that a similar study was not done before in this area. This study was conducted with analytic method. The sample size was whole thalassemia major in Zabol (until 1391) that the rate was 100. Variables studied included age, age at onset chelators, serum ferritin levels, parental education level, blood groupe, gender and residence of patients. Information of the study is performed by echocardiography and electrocardiography by a cardiologist and also data were collected from patients'' files and were analyzed by statistical software spss. The total 100 patients, 93% had echocardiographic cardiac complications and 83%had abnormal findings of electrocardiographic. Most of the echocardiographic findings were, valvular disorders to the extent of 89% and then systolic dysfunction (63%), cardiomegaly (43%), pulmonary hypertension (P.HTN) (21%), diastolic dysfunction (12%) and pericardial effusion (3%). Most of electrocardiographic findings was Inverted T waves as much as 42%. Thirty seven patients were male and 63 patients were female. 45% of patients live in urban areas and 55% in rural areas. The mean age of patients was 15.38 years and 54% of patients were aged 10 to 20 years. The Mean age of beginning chelators (deferoxamine) was 8.9 years. The mean serum ferritin level was 5575.56 ng/ ml. Most parents were illiterate and blood group of patients was (48 %) O. Based on chi-square tests, significant relationship (P <0.05) was found between age, age of onset of deferoxamine, father''s educational level, female gender and blood group with cardiac complications. However no significant relation was found between serum ferritin level, mother''s education level and location with cardiac complications. it is recommended to act in order to train low literacy parents and raising awareness among parents and patients about heart complications and raising awareness among parents and patients about heart complications and the importance of early and appropriate treatment with deferoxamine blood and so it is recommended to evaluate patients with thalassemia for effects of cardiac complications at an early age and further studies in association with examined the relationship of blood group and gender of patients with cardiac complications.