Quality of Life in Patients with β-thalassemia Major: Short-term and Long-term Effects After Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Abstract

Background: Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ALLO-HSCT) is a potentially curative approach to treat β-thalassemia major (β-TM).

Objective and methods: To assess the quality of life (QOL) of patients with β-TM after ALLO-HSCT, we searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and MEDLINE for articles on the quality of life (QOL) of patients with β-TM from 1 Feb 2020 to 31 Mar 2020.

Results: Our review revealed that the QOL of patients with β-TM after ALLO-HSCT from a sibling donor is higher than that of patients that received blood infusion and iron-chelating therapy. Survivors of ALLO-HSCT have a QOL as good as that of a healthy population and the ability to return to normal life. However, studies thus far are limited to investigations with a few patients with β-TM who received ALLO-HSCT of the bone marrow (BM) from a sibling donor or related donor. Graft vs. host disease, patient age, gender, sexual desire, health condition, psychological state, financial and employment stress, and social support contributed to a worse QOL after ALLO-HSCT. Medicine usage, physical therapy, and psychological intervention may help improve the decline in QOL related to ALLO-HSCT in patients with β-TM.

Conclusion: Doctors and nurses must focus on implementing medicine usage, physical therapy, and psychological intervention to improve the decline in QOL related to ALLO-HSCT.

Keywords: Quality of life; blood infusion; bone marrow.; haematopoietic stem cell transplantation; iron-chelating therapy; β-thalassemia major.