title: Associates of poor physical and mental health-related quality of life in beta thalassemia-major/intermedia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Using two logistic regression models, we determined the associates of poor physical and mental health related quality of life (HRQoL) among beta thalassemia patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study which was conducted during 2006 and 2007 in outpatient adult thalassemia clinic, Blood Transfusion Organization, Tehran, Iran, Short Form 36 (SF-36) was used for measuring HRQoL in 179 patients with beta thalassemia (major/intermedia). We determined scores higher than third quartiles of obtained PCS and MCS scores as the cutoff points of good HRQoL. Poor HRQoL was defined scores lower than first quartiles of obtained PCS and MCS scores. Two distinct logistic regression models were used to derive associated variables including demographic, clinical, and psychological factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The regression models suggested that poor physical HRQoL was positively associated with somatic comorbidities (OR = 1.472, CI = 1.021-2.197, p = 0.048) and depression score (OR = 8.568, CI = 2.325-31.573, p = 0.001). The variables that were associated with poor mental HRQoL were anxiety score (OR = 9.409, CI = 1.022-89.194, p = 0.049) and depression score (OR = 20.813, CI = 4.320-100.266, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depression is associated with both poor physical and mental HRQoL among patients with major/intermedia beta thalassemia, however somatic comorbidities and anxiety are associated with poor physical and mental HRQoL, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization Research Center, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Azita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azarkeivan
authors.forename: Bashir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hajibeigi
authors.forename: Seyed Moayed
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Alavian
authors.forename: Maryam Moghani
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lankarani
authors.forename: Shervin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Assari