Craniofacial Anthropometric Differences Among the β-Thalassemia Major Patients and Healthy Subjects: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract ObjectiveThe present study aims to compare β-thalassemia major patients and healthy individuals in terms of anthropometric characteristics and changes in craniofacial profile.Subjects and MethodCraniofacial anthropometric measurements were performed on a total of 422 subjects (199 β-thalassemia major patients and 223 healthy individuals) by using a millimetric caliper on 19 anthropometric parameters (8 horizontal, 10 vertical, and 1 head circumference) in cranial, facial, nasal, orolabial, and orbital zones.ResultsThe difference between the orbital, nasal, and orolabial zone parameters of healthy subjects and β-Thalassemia patients was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of head circumference in the cranial zone and total facial height in facial zone (n-gn) values (p˃0.05). In intragroup comparison between females and males with β-Thalassemia, statistically significant differences were found in forehead width (ft-ft), forehead height (tr-gl), right eye width (R ex-ex), and upper lip height (sn-stm) (p < 0.05).ConclusionUnderstanding the craniofacial profile changes in β-thalassemia major patients and increasing our knowledge about the relationship between the course and severity of disease and the level of these changes would contribute to the advancements in diagnoses to be made in facial and jaw zones of these patients and in the treatment plans.Clinical RelevanceWe believe that the analysis and results of the craniofacial anthropometric data obtained in the study will contribute to the diagnosis and treatment processes of patients with beta-thalassemia in areas of expertise such as craniofacial surgery, orthodontics, and hemato-oncology.