A Retrospective Study on Gender-Related Differences in Clinical Events of Sickle Cell Disease: A Single Centre Experience

Abstract

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder, prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially in Nigeria with a high rate of mortality and morbidity due to poor socioeconomic structure amongst other factors. Devising risk stratification through inexpensive means may serve as an important tool for early detection and management of complications of SCD. Objective: To determine the impact of gender on the clinical events amongst children living with SCD. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study carried out at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka, Anambra, Nigeria. Medical notes were obtained from medical records department. Data on demographic variables, weight, full blood count result, blood transfusions history, hospital admissions and complications were obtained. p value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: 45 cases were reviewed, of which 23 (51.1%) were males and 22 (48.9%) were females with a mean age of 9.8±3.9 years. The mean haemoglobin concentration, WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet counts of the study group were 9.94± 4.58 g/dl, 13.86 ±8.15x109/l, 6.71± 4.37x 109/l, 6.79±4.51 x109/. There was no statistically significant relationship with gender (p values: 0.457, 0.495, 0.893, 0.319, 0.137 respectively. The frequency of vaso-occlusive crisis and chronic leg ulcers were more in males, although this was not statistically significant (p=0.291, 0.699 respectively). Females were shown to have more cases of osteomyelitis but this was not statistically significant (p=0.459). Conclusion: We found no statistically significant relationship between gender and clinical events in SCD patients, although other studies reported otherwise. A larger, multicentre study is recommended.