Correlation of General Health Status of Patients with Major Thalassemia with Demographic Characteristics

Understanding the general health status of thalassemia patients and their families can be useful in establishing a better therapeutic relationship with them and thus improve the follow-up and treatment of these patients. This study aimed to determine the correlation between the general health status of patients with beta-thalassemia major and demographic characteristics in Tehran province in 2018.

This is a descriptive correlational study that was conducted in 1397 in Tehran province. The study population consisted of all major thalassemia patients referred to Tehran Special Disease Center, and 147 were enrolled in the study. The “28-item General Health Questionnaire” consisted of 28 items with four domains of physical symptoms, anxiety, social dysfunction, and depression. The content validity and test-retest were measured. Data were analyzed by SPSS 18.

The prevalence of general health disorders was 51.7%. According to the subscales of the questionnaire, 4.1% of patients were suspected of having physical symptoms, 23.8% were suspected of anxiety and insomnia, 8.2% were suspected of social dysfunction, and 16.3% were suspected of depression.

According to the results of this study, patients with thalassemia are exposed to various disorders. Therefore, providing educational programs to alleviate these disorders, provide support to those around them and their families, as well as the presence of a psychologist and psychiatrist alongside these patients.