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Table 1 Socio-demographic characteristics (n = 196)

From: Quality of life and challenges experienced by the surviving adults with transfusion dependent thalassaemia in Malaysia: a cross sectional study

Characteristics

n (%)

Age in yearsa

27 (7.4)

Gender

 

 Male

87 (44)

 Female

109 (56)

Ethnic

 

 Malay

121 (62)

 Sabah and Sarawak indigenous (e.g. Kadazan-Dusun)

40 (20)

 Chinese

35 (18)

Types of thalassaemia

 

 Beta thalassaemia major

126 (64)

 HbE beta thalassaemia

59 (30)

 HbH disease

11 (6)

Types of comorbidity (n = 179)

 

 Musculoskeletal

23 (13)

 Endocrine

21 (12)

 Cardiovascular

6 (3)

 Blood infection

4 (2)

 Psychological

4 (2)

 Multiple

16 (9)

 Others

6 (3)

Medication

 

 Iron chelators

191 (97)

 Hormonal medication

110 (56)

 Cardiac medication

8 (4)

 More than 1 group of medication

157 (80)

Mode of administration of iron chelating agents

 

 Subcutaneous only

25 (13)

 Oral only

78 (40)

 Combined oral and subcutaneous

88 (45)

 None needed

5 (3)

Frequency of hospital visits (n = 194)

 

 Once a month

80 (41)

 Twice a month

70 (36)

 More than twice a month

44 (23)

Monthly income (n = 172, included those participants with a previous employment)

 

 Less than RM1000

62 (36)

 Between RM1000 and RM2000

60 (35)

 More than RM2000

21 (12)

 Unemployed

24 (14)

  1. aMean (SD)