Tehran University of Medical Sciences International Journal of Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Research 2008-2207 15 1 2021 01 13 27 34 EN Sukhmani Sidhu Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery Student, Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana, Punjab, India Shruti Kakkar Department of Pediatrics, Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana, Punjab, India Priyanka Dewan Department of Pediatrics, Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana, Punjab, India Namita Bansal Research & Development Unit, Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana, Punjab, India Praveen Sobti Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Charitable Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India 2020 01 28 2020 10 10 Background: Thalassemia is a chronic disease requiring lifelong treatment. The adherence to regular iron chelation therapy is important to ensure complication-free survival and good quality of life. The study aim to assess the adherence to iron chelation therapy (ICT) in patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT), evaluate various causes of non-adherence and study the impact of non-adherence on the prevalence of complications secondary to iron overload. Materials and Methods: Patients with TDT on ICT for > 6 months were enrolled in the study. Hospital records were reviewed for demographic details, iron overload status, treatment details, and the prevalence of complications. A study questionnaire was used to collect information on adherence to ICT, knowledge of patients, and the possible reasons for non-adherence.   Results:  A total of 215 patients with a mean age of 15.07+7.68 years and an M: F ratio of 2.2:1 were included in the study. Non-adherence to ICT was found in 10.7% of patients. Serum ferritin levels were significantly higher in the non-adherent group (3129.8+1573.2 µg/l) than the adherent population (2013.1+1277.1 µg/l). Cardiac as well as severe liver iron overload was higher in the non-adherent patients. No correlation was found between disease knowledge and adherence to ICT. Difficulties in drug administration and many medicines to be taken daily were statistically significant reasons for non-adherence. There was no difference in the co-morbidities arising due to the iron overload in the two groups. Conclusion: Nearly 11% of patients with TDT were non-adherent to ICT. Non-adherence results in higher iron overload.  https://ijhoscr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijhoscr/article/view/1262 https://ijhoscr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijhoscr/article/download/1262/857