title: Quality of life among children with beta-thalassemia major treated in Western Saudi Arabia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the quality of life among children and adolescents with thalassemia major.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study used the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). Children and adolescents with beta-thalassemia major who attended the Day Care Unit at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from October 2012 to February 2013 were surveyed. The questions highlighted 4 health status scales, namely physical functioning (PF), emotional functioning (EF), school performance (SC), and social functioning (SF). Scores were calculated for each patient and data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We recruited 46 children (60.9% males). The median age of the sample was 12 years (range, 2-18 years). Most patients (84.8%) had 3 weekly blood transfusions. The mean+/-SD physical functioning (PF) score was 57.2+/-25.9; the EF score was 74.1+/-20.3, SF score was 78.5+/-24, and SC score was 54.3+/-24.2. The PF score was significantly lower in patients with a family history of thalassemia (p=0.003), and in those whose families had low incomes (p=0.049). Conversely, the SF score was significantly higher in school-educated patients (p=0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The quality of life of thalassemic children is affected by multiple factors, such as family income and a family history of thalassemia. Education appeared to increase patient functionality. Supportive measures could improve the quality of life in thalassemic patients.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Department, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 127428, Jeddah 21352, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Tel. +966 (12) 6547117. Fax. +966 (12) 2060078. E-mail: m.ayoub111@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohammed D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ayoub
authors.forename: Suhaib A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Radi
authors.forename: Abdulrahman M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Azab
authors.forename: Abdulrahman A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Abulaban
authors.forename: Abdulrahman H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Balkhoyor
authors.forename: Seifeleslam W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Bedair
authors.forename: Soad K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Aljaouni
authors.forename: Jameela A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000628:therapy*