European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Aim: done to assess the, anxiety levels and in chronically transfused thalassemia patients of age group
8-18 years and their parents. Methodology : 100 cases of thalassemia of age group 8-18 years who
were on regular blood transfusion and 100 age and sex matched cases not suffering from
thalassemia or other chronic disorder were included from the OPD or ward formed the control
group. Demographic profile and clinical data will be recorded for both the cases and controls using
the same written semi structured pretested proformas. Anxiety level among the participants, was
evaluated using pre-validated Hamilton Anxiety Score (HAM-A Score).
Results : we observed that parents of children suffering from thalassemia had anxiety prevalence of
38% in which 18% had mild, 11% had moderate and 9% had severe. Parents of control group of
adolescents had anxiety prevalence of 26% with 12% having mild, 9% moderate and 5% severe.
Among adolescent children suffering from thalassemia 26%, showed anxiety, in which 17% had mild,
6% moderate and 3% had severe as compared to 18% prevalence in the control group with 10% mild,
5% moderate and 3% severe. The prevalence of anxiety among the cases as per the gap in blood
transfusion. It was observed that anxiety was significantly more in elderly patients and who had less
gap in between transfusion. Conclusion : The patients with thalassemia are at risk of developing
anxiety disorders more than the normal adolescents. Thalassemia patients require life long
psychological support for prevention mental health issues. Mood disorders of children and adolescents
are likely to continue in adulthood. Parents of thalassemia children are also at high risk of developing
anxiety disorders, this affects the family functioning. Identification, assessment and treatment at
earliest stages are warranted for achievement of better prognosis at adulthood.