In patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT), adherence to iron chelation therapy (ICT) is essential for avoiding iron excess consequences and preserving HRQoL. The present research sought to assess the relationship between adherence and HRQoL in TDT patients from Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among TDT patients aged 18 years and above at Hospital Ampang, Selangor. The adherence and the HRQoL (SF-36) were measured utilizing validated tools. Correlation analyses were performed to ascertain whether adherence to ICT and HRQoL was associated. 162 individuals were included in the trial, and 46.91% (n= 76) of the subjects reported being adherent. TDT patients had a mean SF-36 score of 74.58. The SF-36 questionnaire showed that adherent patients had significantly higher HRQoL (mean SF-36 score of 79.21) than non-adherent patients (mean SF-36 score of 69.47) (P= 0.00). In addition, the results showed that the patient’s HRQoL was positively and significantly correlated with the following factors: age (P= 0.050), employment (P= 0.003), and being female (P= 0.032). Adult TDT patients have a subpar ICT adherence rate, and their HRQoL has been severely impacted by non-adherence. The TDT population may have improved HRQoL results if the rate of ICT adherence is increased by interventions such as patient counseling and support programs.
