Prevalence, Characteristics, and Determinants of Chronic Pain among Thalassemic Patients at King Abdulaziz University Hospital

Abstract BACKGROUND: Thalassemia is a hereditary hemoglobinopathy characterized by inadequate or absent globin synthesis. This study aims to assess the prevalence and incidence of chronic pain in individuals with thalassemia within our population and further investigate the underlying risk factors and precipitating triggers. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah, KSA, from March to June 2023. Using an electronic data collection sheet, we contacted patients by phone and accessed hospital records. Regression results were presented as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals, and statistical significance was defined as a P < 0.05. RESULTS: Ninety-one thalassemia patients were enrolled with a mean age of 26.22 ± 14.64 years. Most patients, 82.9%, had beta-thalassemia major, and 50 patients, 54.9%, reported experiencing pain during the past 4 weeks. Among these patients, the most frequently affected pain site was the left leg. In addition, 88% of participants reported pain triggers, with physical exertion being the most common. Patients who were single ( P = 0.035), those with previous hospital admissions to intensify chelation ( P = 0.046), and those without symptoms of iron overload ( P < 0.001) were significantly associated with increased chronic musculoskeletal pain. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of pain increases with aging and lower hemoglobin levels, leading to a significant deterioration in the quality of life for individuals with thalassemia. More than half of the patients experienced musculoskeletal discomfort in the preceding month. In total, 40% of the patients began experiencing pain within a year from the start of our study, while the remaining individuals had been enduring similarly distressing symptoms for over a year.