Mehdi Javanbakht - Health Economics Research Unit, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
Ali Keshtkaran - Health Economics Department, School of Management and Information Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Hossien Shabaninejad - Department of Health Services Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Hassan Karami - Health Economics Department, School of Management and Information Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Maryam Zakerinia - Department of Internal Medicine, BMT Unit, Hematology Research Center, and Organ Transplant Research Center, Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Sajad Delavari - Department of Health Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Background β-Thalassemia is a prevalent genetic disease in Mediterranean countries. The most common treatments for this disease are blood transfusion plus iron chelation (BTIC) therapy and bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Patients using these procedures experience different health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The purpose of the present study was to measure HRQoL in these patients using ۲ different multiattribute quality of life (QoL) scales.   Methods In this cross-sectional study, data were gathered using ۳ instruments: a socio-demographic questionnaire, EQ-۵D, and SF-۳۶. A total of ۱۹۶ patients with β-thalassemia were randomly selected from ۲ hospitals in Shiraz (Southern Iran). Data were analyzed using logistic regression and multiple regression models to identify factors that affect the patients’ HRQoL.   Results The average EQ-۵D index and EQ visual analog scale (VAS) scores were ۰.۸۶ (۹۵% CI: ۰.۸۳–۰.۸۹) and ۷۱.۸۵ (۹۵% CI: ۶۹.۱۳–۷۴.۵۸), respectively. Patients with BMT reported significantly higher EQ VAS scores (۸۳.۲۷ vs ۶۸.۵۵, respectively). The results showed that patients who lived in rural area and patients with BMT reported higher EQ VAS scores (rural; β=۱۰.۲۵, P=.۰۰۶ and BMT; β=۱۱.۸۸, P=.۰۰۰). As well, SF-۳۶ between ۲ groups of patients were statistically significant in physical component scale (PCS).   Conclusion Patients in the BMT group experienced higher HRQoL in both physical and mental aspects compared to those in the BTIC group. More studies are needed to assess the relative cost-effectiveness of these methods in developing countries

β-Thalassemia, Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), Blood Transfusion, Bone Marrow, Transplantation (BMT)