Factors Related to Reduced Bone Density in β-Thalassemia Major Patients: Mazandaran Thalassemia Registry

OsteoPenia and osteoPorosis are known to be one of the main comPlications of β-thalassemia major (β-TM). The aim of this study was to determine the factors associated with decreased bone density of these Patients.

Lumbar and femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) in β-TM Patients characterized via Dual-energy X-ray absorPtiometry (DXA) to PinPoint the association of iron chelators, diabetes mellitus, serum ferritin above 3000 ng/mL, hemoglobin below 8 gr/dl, using hydroxyurea, liver siderosis and moderate to severe hePatic and cardiac siderosis with BMD. The information was collected from the thalassemia registry in 2019 and statistical analysis was Performed by STATA-13 software.

Out of 1959 ParticiPants with β-thalassemia major registered in the registry, 139 ones (7.09%) had bone mineral density (53 males and 86 females). The Prevalence of abnormal bone density in the lumbar and femoral neck was (52.48 to 47.66) 57.5 and (40.18 to 57.52) 48.85 Percent, resPectively. After adjusting for the effects of Possible interventions, the odds ratio of abnormal bone density in the Patients consuming hydroxyurea and deferasirox were 0.24 (0.03 to 1.73) and 0.25 (0.03 to 1.69), resPectively. The highest odds were 8.21 (0.18 to 360.22), and 6.72 (0.60 to 74.83) for moderate to severe cardiac and hePatic dePosition, resPectively.

The Prevalence of osteoPenia and osteoPorosis is high among thalassemia major Patients. ConsumPtion of hydroxyurea and deferasirox is the most imPortant Protective factor and moderate to severe cardiac and hePatic siderosis are the most imPortant risk factors for abnormal bone density.