# Application of Fuzzy AHP for Medication Decision Making in Iron-Chelating Medications for Thalassemia

## TL;DR

This study uses a fuzzy decision-making method to help doctors choose the best iron-chelating medication for thalassemia patients.

## Contribution

The study applies the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) to optimize medication selection for thalassemia-related iron overload.

## Key findings

- Deferiprone was found to be the most effective chelator.
- Deferasirox was preferred for cost and patient satisfaction.
- Deferoxamine had the highest rate of side effects.

## Abstract

Iron overload is a significant concern for patients with thalassemia and often necessitates the use of iron-chelating agents to mitigate the associated complications. Selecting the most appropriate chelation therapy from the available options is a complex decision for healthcare professionals. To support this decision-making process, this study investigates the application of the “Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process” (FAHP) for medication selection in thalassemia patients requiring iron-chelation therapy. In this study, 20 hematologists participated, and matrices related to the FAHP model were used to evaluate three primary iron chelators: deferoxamine, deferasirox, and deferiprone. The results revealed that deferiprone was the most effective choice, while deferasirox outperformed the others in terms of cost and patient satisfaction. Notably, deferoxamine exhibits the highest rate of side effects, followed by deferiprone and deferasirox. The results obtained from the FAHP analysis indicated a consensus among experts and highlighted deferasirox as the optimal choice for treating chronic iron overload in thalassemia patients. The study demonstrates the practical applicability of the FAHP methodology in guiding informed decisions for iron-chelation therapy. It provides insights to help healthcare professionals optimize treatment strategies for patients with thalassemia.