Malnutrition, Its Attributes, and Impact on Quality of Life: An Epidemiological Study Among β-Thalassemia Major Children

Background: India is home to a large number of thalassemic children. Despite malnutrition being an essential determinant of their therapeutic goals and quality of life (QoL), it was hardly ever explored. With this background, this study aimed to estimate the proportion of β-thalassemia major (β-TM) children experiencing malnutrition, its attributes, and impact on their QoL.

Methods: This cross-sectional, hospital-based, analytical observational study was conducted among 328 β-TM children attending the thalassemia day care unit of a medical college from May 2016 to April 2017, with a structured schedule. Data were analyzed following appropriate statistical methods using SPSS statistical package ver. 16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

Results: Among the study participants, 48.2% were malnourished with a mean body mass index of 13.9 kg/m2 . In the multivariable logistic regression model, participants' age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.29), caste (AOR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.23-3.60), mothers' educational level (AOR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.22- 3.44), blood transfusion frequency (AOR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.16-1.31), and palpable spleen size (AOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.08-1.37) were significant predictors of malnutrition after adjusting for pre-transfusion hemoglobin level and hemolytic facies status. In multiple linear regression analysis, malnutrition negatively impacted total QoL (unstandardized beta [standard error], -4.4 [1.7]; P=0.009) and various domains of the study participants except the social and school domains adjusted for age, sex, caste, place of residence, parents' educational level, and socioeconomic status.

Conclusion: Almost half of the study participants had malnutrition. Malnutrition had a negative impact on their QoL.