Health-related quality of life in adults with sickle cell disease in Duhok-Iraq

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the second-most common hemoglobin disorder in Duhok governorate. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instrument provides physicians with the patient's perspectives of their disease and thus more patient-oriented care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this case–control study, a total of 70 adults (≥18 years old) registered as SCD at the center for blood diseases in Duhok as well as 70 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Enrolled patients had their records and treatment reviewed, were clinically assessed, and appropriately investigated. All patients and controls had their HRQoL scored using the SF36 questionnaire, which consists of eight domains, namely physical function, role limitation physical, role limitation emotional, vitality, emotional well-being, social function, bodily pain, and general health perception. RESULTS: The mean standard deviation age of the SCD patients enrolled was 26.2 (8.9) years and included 32 males and 38 females. The patients had significantly lower HRQoL scores in all eight domains when compared to their matched controls. The most affected domain was general health. Within the patients' group, it was noted that HRQoL scores were negatively correlated with age in several domains, most significantly with general health (P = 0.011). On the other hand, there was no significant difference in HRQoL in relevance to gender, marital status, education, or employment. The most significant negative correlations of HRQoL scores were documented with the annual number of pain episodes and hospital admissions observed with all eight domains. CONCLUSIONS: The current study documented that in adults with SCD, HRQoL in all domains was significantly worse than in healthy controls and that it gets worse with age. The most significant contributors to the worse HRQoL are pain episodes and hospital admissions. The study underscores the importance of HRQoL assessments to enable attending physicians provide more patient-centered management.