Table 2 Patient characteristics
From: Factors affecting health-related quality of life in Thai children with thalassemia
| Â | N (%)/Mean (SD) |
|---|---|
Gender (n = 314) | Â |
   Male | 159 (50.6%) |
   Female | 155 (49.4%) |
Age (years) (n = 315) | 10.0 (3.3) |
Diagnosis (n = 310) | Â |
   β-thalassemia/Hb E | 165 (53.2%) |
   Homozygous β-thalassemia | 15 (4.8%) |
   Hemoglobin H | 130 (42%) |
Age at onset of anemia (years) (n = 270) | 3.61 (2.6) |
Age at first transfusion (years) (n = 191) | 3.91 (2.8) |
Receiving a blood transfusion during the previous 3 months (n = 245) | Â |
   Yes | 103 (42%) |
   No | 142 (58%) |
Frequency of blood transfusion (n = 312) | Â |
   None | 146 (46.8%) |
   Occasional (1-5 times/year) | 58 (18.6%) |
   Low (6-12 times/year) | 77 (24.7%) |
   High (13-22 times/year) | 31 (9.9%) |
Pre-transfusion Hb level 3 months prior to QOL assessment (g/dL) (n = 265) | 8.04 (1.2) |
Serum ferritin level (ng/mL) (n = 127) | 2509.9(1903.6) |
Iron chelation treatment (n = 314)* | Â |
   Yes | 86 (27.4%) |
   No | 228 (72.6%) |
Complications (n = 314) | Â |
   Yes | 19 (6.1%) |
   No | 295 (93.9%) |
Age at onset of anemia <2 and age at first transfusion <4 years old (n = 241) | Â |
   Yes | 75 (31.1%) |
   No | 166 (68.9%) |
Having a severe condition** (n = 314) | Â |
   Yes | 113 (36%) |
   No | 201 (64%) |