Objective: To assess clinical factors affecting the quality of life in patients with hereditary hemochromatosis.
Methods: Fifty consecutive patients with hereditary hemochromatosis completed a self-administered survey (Medical Outcome Survey, MOS-SF36). The effects of cirrhosis, diabetes, and arthritis on physical, social, and general health variables were assessed in 8 subscales including physical, social, emotional, and general health.
Results: Multiple linear regression models demonstrated that arthritic patients had impairments in more subcategories (physical functioning, pain and general health perception) than cirrhotic (vitality) and diabetic patients. A multivariate analysis of variance model suggested that arthritis is the strongest single factor affecting quality of life (p = 0.0516).
Conclusion: Although cirrhosis is the major factor affecting survival, arthritis is a prominent clinical factor affecting quality of life in hemochromatosis.