|
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)
|
