Evaluation of quality of life before and after treatment of patients with irondeficiency anemia

Anemia is an important public health problem worldwide. The most common cause of anemia in the community is hypoproliferative anemia, which is the most common cause of iron deficiency anemia. WHO defines quality of life as per the way individuals perceive their lives in connection with their goals, expectations, standards and interests in the context of their culture and value systems. When fatigue, lassitude and breathlessness caused by hypoxia caused by anemia are not controlled, it affects the daily life activities and quality of life of the individual negatively. In this study, we aimed to compare the results of WHOQOL-BREF scale before and after replacement therapy in patients with iron deficiency anemia and to evaluate the relationship between iron deficiency anemia and quality of life in patients. The study included 134 patients with iron deficiency anemia who applied to Hacettepe University Hospital Internal Medicine, Hematology, Family Medicine outpatient clinics between September 2018 and April 2019. 95 of these patients came to the control. Before and after the treatment of these patients, blood parameters of the patients were requested and the symptoms of iron deficiency anemia were questioned and the WHOQOLBREF quality of life scale was filled. Then, pre- and post-treatment findings were compared. After iron replacement therapy, erythrocyte, Hb, MCV, leukocyte, ferritin levels were increased and platelet values decreased. The symptoms of iron deficiency anemia, fatigue, breathlessness, pallor, palpitations, numbness in hand-feet decreased and statistically significant difference was observed. The complaint of lassitude was also decreased and however did not make a statistically significant difference. Quality of life scale of patients, general perceived quality of life, perceived health status, physical domain scores increased and the difference was statistically significant. Psychological domain, social relationship domain, environment domain-TR scores increased and did not make a statistically significant difference. Keywords: Iron deficiency anemia, quality of life, preventive medicine