{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.04590163934426229, 'fraction_numerical': 0.018579234972677595, 'mean_word_length': 5.589928057553957, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Impact of Thalassemia major on Patients and Their Families

Objective: To describe the burden of thalassemia major and its treatment, in terms of prevalence of iron-overload-related complications, direct and indirect costs, and the patient’s physical and social well-being. Methods: From October 1999 to May 2000 a survey of patients with thalassemia major was conducted in ten countries: Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Italy, Jordan, Taiwan, and the United States. Results: 1,888 questionnaires (65%) were returned. The responses suggest that nowadays patients begin blood transfusions, and most use desferrioxamine (84.8%), but iron-related complications, including life-threatening ones such as heart disease, are still common. Conclusions: There remains a need to improve the management of thalassemia, as many patients with iron-related complications experience physical and social limitations.