OBJECTIVES

As an increasing amount of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) patients requires blood transfusion. The objective covered within the scope of this study is: to quantify Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) as experienced by individuals with SCD treated with automated red blood cell exchange (aRBCX) versus simple blood transfusion. Moreover the study intends to identify the drivers for quality of life amongst SCD patients that require blood transfusion.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed amongst 40 individuals with SCD, 20 from the USA, 10 from France and 10 from the UK each with prior simple blood transfusion treatment and current treatment aRBCX.

RESULTS

Individuals undergoing aRBCX reported an HRQoL that was 25% higher compared to the period where they were treated with simple transfusion (0.70 vs. 0.55; p<0.01). The main drivers of HRQoL identified were (correlation efficient): pain reduction (0.57), improved social live (0.49), autonomy in terms of all day living activities and being independent from others (0.56), feeling energetic and physical functioning (0.57) and lastly emotional worry and mental health (0.56), all with p-values < 0.01. Together these variables explain 39% of the HRQoL experienced by study participants (R² = 0.39, p < 0.01). 80% of the patients included in the study preferred aRBCX over simple transfusion.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study individuals with sickle cell disease that require chronic blood transfusions experience better health-related quality of life when they are treated with automated red blood cell exchange versus simple transfusions.