Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Pediatrics

Background: Thalassemia is a chronic autosomal recessive disorder, resulting in ineffective blood formation and chronic hemolytic anemia. Patients are exposed to multiple stresses such as regular hospital visits, repeated transfusions and painful injections, that is why they experience physical, psychological and social problems leading to decreased quality of life. Objectives: To assess the quality of life among thalassemia major patients using child health quality-child Form 87 (CHQ-CH87), short form 36 (SF-36), Child health quality-parent form 50 (CHQ-PF50) questionnaires and to determine the most affected domains among males and females. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study conducted in Cairo children university hospital. Five hundred and eighteen patients were enrolled. Quality of life was assessed with the following questionnaires: (CHQ-PF 50) for parents of children aged (5-8 years), (CHQ-CF 87) for children (8-<17 years) and SF-36 for adolescent patients ({u2265}17 years). Results: The mean age of the studied group (12.75±4.18) years. The majority (93.63%) had 1monthly blood transfusion. The mean total score of CHQ-CF87 (59.20± 2.05); CHQ-PF50 (57.65±2.65) while SF-36 (44.90±7.54). All questionnaires showed that General health domain was the most affected with mean score (43.38±14.76), (32.51± 14.35); (27.54±10.00) respectively

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