Treatment of
iron overload using
deferoxamine (DFO) is associated with significant deficits in patients' health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and low treatment satisfaction. The current article presents patient-reported HRQOL, satisfaction, adherence, and persistence data from β-
thalassemia (n = 274) and
myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients (n = 168) patients participating in the Evaluation of Patients'
Iron Chelation with
Exjade (EPIC) study (NCT00171821); a large-scale 1-year, phase IIIb study investigating the efficacy and safety of the once-daily oral
iron chelator,
deferasirox. HRQOL and satisfaction, adherence, and persistence to
iron chelation therapy (ICT) data were collected at baseline and end of study using the Medical Outcomes Short-Form 36-item Health Survey (SF-36v2) and the Satisfaction with ICT Questionnaire (SICT). Compared to age-matched norms, β-
thalassemia and MDS patients reported lower SF-36 domain scores at baseline. Low levels of treatment satisfaction, adherence, and persistence were also observed. HRQOL improved following treatment with
deferasirox, particularly among β-
thalassemia patients. Furthermore, patients reported high levels of satisfaction with
deferasirox at end of study and greater ICT adherence, and persistence. Findings suggest
deferasirox improves HRQOL, treatment satisfaction, adherence, and persistence with ICT in β-
thalassemia and MDS patients. Improving such outcomes is an important long-term goal for patients with
iron overload.