Health Related Quality of Life of Children with Sickle Cell Anemia and Their Parents; Quantitative Study in Albaha; Saudi Arabia

Aims: To gain a better understanding of the quality of life (QoL) of children and impact of this disease on parents QoL. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in King Fahd Hospital, Albaha city, Albaha, Saudi Arabia, between March2020 and February 2021. Methodology: We included 95 responses. Two different tools were used for the purpose of this study. PedsQL™ Sickle Cell Disease Module was used to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in healthy children and adolescents and those with acute and chronic health conditions. Moreover, PedsQL™ Family Information Form was completed by caregivers. Median and interquartile range were used for numerical variables since they were skewed. Bivariate analyses were carried out using non-parametrical tests and Pearson correlation. The prediction of QoL was accomplished through multivariate analysis. Results: A total of (95) responses were analyzed. Female respondents were 52.6%. The age median was 12 (IQR=10-14). Mothers represented the most frequent informant 46.3% in this current study. Significant association was found between QoL and certain independent factors, some of which is parental level of education (P< .001) and marital support (P< .001). Conclusion: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a major condition accounts for a huge burden on variable levels. This study reported that low QoL among children affected by SCD. Higher education and current marital status of the parents were significantly associated with high QoL in SCD patients. Number of workdays affected due to child health was significantly correlated with low QoL.