Assessment of Body Mass Index (BMI) in Patients With Beta Thalassemia Major (β-TM): A Hospital-Based Study.

Objective We assessed the body mass index (BMI) and its association in patients with β-thalassemia major (β-TM). Materials and methods This hospital-based study was conducted following approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee. All participants underwent a detailed clinical evaluation by a pediatrician, and diagnosis of β-TM was established using hemoglobin (Hb) electrophoresis. Statistical analysis Clinico-pathological data were compiled using Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, Washington, United States) and analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 21 (released 2012; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States) for statistical analysis. Data collected from patients with β-TM were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. Shapiro-Wilk test was used to assess normality of data distribution. Categorical variables were compared between subgroups using chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, wherever appropriate. For continuous variables with normal distribution, mean values were compared using the student's t-test. Results We included 35 patients with 𝛽-TM in our study. They were classified into three age groups: Group I included 13 patients (9 males (M) and 4 females (F)) aged 06-60 months, Group II comprised 14 patients (9M and 5F) aged 61-120 months, and Group III consisted of 8 patients (4M and 4F) aged 121-156 months.. An analysis of underweight (<5th) percentile reported 2M (22.22%)/2F (50.0%), 2M (22.22%)/0F (0%), and 2M (50%)/2F (50%) in groups I, II, and III, respectively. We did not find overweight and obese patients in our study. The line diagram of age and height showed a significant positive correlation, whereas line diagram of BMI and height and BMI and blood transfusion (BT) numbers showed an insignificant correlation in patients with 𝛽-TM. Conclusion Early assessment of BMI is crucial to identify nutritional abnormalities and prevent potential complications in patients with β-TM. Patients with 𝛽-TM who meet the criteria for underweight need proper routine checkups; appropriate lifestyle modifications may help improve their quality of life.