Comparative Effects of Three Iron Chelation Therapies on the Quality of Life of Greek Patients with Homozygous Transfusion-Dependent Beta-Thalassemia

Table 4

Association between SF-36 scales and chelation treatment.

SF-36 scale	Chelation treatment	𝑁	Estimated mean score	95% CI for estimated mean score		𝑃 value*
	DFX	72	80.3	75.7	84.8
Physical functioning	DFO + DFP	19	80.9	74.2	87.6	0.048
	DFO	33	68.4	59.6	77.3
	DFX	71	79.9	71.5	88.3
Role limitations due to physical health	DFO + DFP	17	76.5	64.2	88.8	0.021
	DFO	33	52.9	35.8	70.1
	DFX	71	80.3	74.4	86.3
Bodily pain	DFO + DFP	17	73.6	64.9	82.3	0.015
	DFO	33	60.7	48.6	72.8
	DFX	70	51.6	47.4	55.9
General health perceptions	DFO + DFP	17	53.1	46.9	59.3	0.111
	DFO	33	42.3	33.6	50.9
	DFX	71	61.8	57.6	65.9
Vitality	DFO + DFP	17	68.5	62.4	74.6	<0.001
	DFO	33	46.2	37.7	54.7
	DFX	71	76.4	71.2	81.6
Social functioning	DFOl + DFP	17	77.3	69.7	85.0	0.845
	DFO	33	73.5	62.9	84.1
	DFX	71	77.9	69.6	86.3
Role limitations due to emotional problems	DFO + DFP	17	71.4	59.2	83.6	0.338
	DFO	33	64.7	47.7	81.7
	DFX	71	65.4	61.1	69.6
Mental health	DFO + DFP	17	65.3	59.1	71.6	0.001
	DFO	33	46.8	38.1	55.5

∗Univariate analysis; DFO: deferoxamine; DFX: deferasirox: DFP: deferiprone; NS: not significant. 𝑃 values < 0.05 indicate statistical differences among the three groups.