Risk Factors Linked to Development of Cardiomyopathy in Adults with Beta- Thalassemia Major in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Beta-thalassemia major is a genetic disorder adversely affecting the life of the patient and the whole family. Repeated blood transfusions are required to maintain the hemoglobin level, which create a state of iron overload in the body leading to ectopic iron deposition in the heart, liver, pancreas and other organs. Thalassemia cardiomyopathy is the most dreaded complication of this resultant iron overload. The present study was a cross-sectional study involving 77 patients with thalassemia major, whose age, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), hemoglobin, serum ferritin levels were correlated with their twodimensional echocardiographic findings. Out of the total 77 patients, 63 had diastolic dysfunction, 6 had systolic dysfunction and remaining 8 had normal left ventricular function. The mean age of the patients was 22.42 years and their mean BMI was 16.82. Patients with systolic dysfunction had lower hemoglobin and higher serum ferritin levels as compared to other patients. The study concluded that cardiac dysfunction is seen more in younger age, higher BMI, lower BP, low hemoglobin levels and raised serum ferritin levels. Thus, early intensive iron chelation therapy should be provided to all the patients to curb this dreaded complication.