Symptoms of depression and anxiety in patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a single-center study

Background: Patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia frequently experience significant psychological distress, with high rates of anxiety and depression reported. Despite this, the psychological status of thalassemia patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains less explored. Gaining insights into the symptoms of depression and anxiety in this population is crucial, as it can inform tailored support and improve quality of life. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression in post-HSCT thalassemia patients and to identify potential risk factors. Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Methods: A cross-sectional study involved 170 transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients who underwent HSCT from January 2017 to November 2022. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), a self-report questionnaire, was used to evaluate the levels of anxiety and depression. Results: The prevalence of anxiety and depression was 11.2% and 8.8%, respectively. Patients with a history of splenectomy and those with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) exhibited significantly higher HADS scores ( p < 0.01). Correlation analysis revealed positive associations between these variables and HADS scores, with correlation coefficients of 0.256 for splenectomy with HADS-Anxiety (HADS-A) and 0.227 with HADS-Depression (HADS-D) scores. For cGVHD, the correlation coefficients were 0.290 with HADS-A and 0.388 with HADS-D scores. Conclusion: The study revealed the psychological burden faced by post-transplant thalassemia patients, particularly those with a history of splenectomy and cGVHD. These findings underscore the need for targeted psychological support and interventions for this vulnerable patient group.