Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41893951›Full record

ArticleDrugs - real world outcomes2026

Disease Burden in Transfusion-Dependent β-Thalassemia (TDT) Patients and Caregivers in Italy: Results of a Cross-Sectional Descriptive Online Survey.

Marcella Contieri, Francesca Gatta, Maria Colonnese, Annamaria Pasanisi, Filomena Longo, Giovanni Battista Ferrero, Antonio Giulio Piga, Roberto Lisi, Domenico Roberti, Chiara Baiano and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Drugs - real world outcomes, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Marcella Contieri *Dipartimento della Donna, del bambino e della chirurgia generale e specialistica, Università della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Campania, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8503-8475
Francesca Gatta *Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease, GmBH, Baar, Switzerland.
Maria ColonneseDipartimento della Donna, del bambino e della chirurgia generale e specialistica, Università della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Campania, Italy.
Annamaria PasanisiCentro della microcitemia "Antonella Quarta", UOC di Ematologia, Ospedale Perrino, Brindisi, Italy.
Filomena LongoDay Hospital della Talassemia e delle Emoglobinopatie, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria S. Anna, Ferrara, Italy.
Giovanni Battista FerreroHemoglobinopathies and Rare Anemia Reference Center, Department of Biological and Clinical Sciences, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Antonio Giulio PigaHemoglobinopathies and Rare Anemia Reference Center, Department of Biological and Clinical Sciences, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Roberto LisiThalassemia Unit, ARNAS Garibaldi, Catania, Italy.
Domenico RobertiDipartimento della Donna, del bambino e della chirurgia generale e specialistica, Università della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Campania, Italy.
Chiara BaianoDipartimento di Psicologia, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy.
Gabriella SantangeloDipartimento di Psicologia, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy.
Angelo PerrottaDipartimento della Donna, del bambino e della chirurgia generale e specialistica, Università della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Campania, Italy.
Gelsomina SimeoneDipartimento della Donna, del bambino e della chirurgia generale e specialistica, Università della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Campania, Italy.
Silverio PerrottaDipartimento della Donna, del bambino e della chirurgia generale e specialistica, Università della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Campania, Italy.
Immacolata TartaglioneDipartimento della Donna, del bambino e della chirurgia generale e specialistica, Università della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Campania, Italy. immacolata.tartaglione@unicampania.it.

Funding

bluebird bio Not available
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPatients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) require lifelong blood transfusions; data on the psychosocial and economic impact on patients and their caregivers remain limited. The study aims to address this gap by describing the burden of TDT on pediatric, young, and adult patients, as well as their caregivers, within real-world settings in Italy. METHODOLOGY: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted between May and December 2021. TDT patients and their caregivers from Italian sites were invited to complete an online survey with the Ratip and Modell questionnaire (1996) and another bespoke questionnaire. All subjects signed an online informed consent before responding to the questionnaires.

resultsSeventy-nine subjects completed the survey: 59 patients (43 adults and 16 children) and 20 caregivers (the majority of adult patients were aged 41-50 years). The age at diagnosis differed between adults and pediatric patients, being earlier in the latter (0-2 months in 43.8%). Nearly half of patients received more than one transfusion/month. More than half of the patients experienced blood shortages, particularly during the summer. School absenteeism was reported as a major issue.

conclusionTDT continues to impose a significant burden, negatively impacting daily life, work, education, and social interactions. The availability of blood resources remains a critical issue, particularly in high-prevalence regions. The study highlights the need for ongoing research, innovative approaches, and enhanced support to ensure improved well-being for TDT patients and their caregivers.

Identifiers

PMID41893951
PMCPMC13287343

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.