Pattern of haematologic abnormalities in incident dialysis patients and the effect of using locally derived haematologic reference ranges

Background: The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence of haematologic abnormalities seen in incident haemodialysis patients using standard laboratory reference ranges with reference ranges derived locally.Study Design and Method: This was a retrospective study of 97 patients with renal failure who received haemodialysis at a single dialysis unit in Lagos, Nigeria. All patients were 18 years of age or older, had renal failure requiring dialysis, and had not previously dialyzed. Patients with a history of haemoglobinoapthy or other red cell disorders, recent history of overt blood loss or blood transfusion and pregnancy were excluded.Results: Fifty six (57.7%) of the patients were males; and 55 (56.7%) had chronic kidney disease. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between males and females, however, patients with CKD had significantly higher mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures, mean serum creatinines and lower mean haemoglobin concentrations.Overall, anaemia was the most common haematologic abnormality (97.9%), followed by leukocytosis (34.0%). Leukopenia, thrombocytosis and thrombocytopenia were less common (3.1%, 7.2% and 10.3% respectively). The use of locally derived reference ranges was associated with significantly higher frequencies of occurrence of majority of the haematologic abnormalities studied.Conclusion: Haematological abnormalities occurred frequently in the study population. Use locally derived haematologic reference ranges was associated with significant differences in the frequency and pattern of some of the haematologic abnormalities. Further studies are needed to determine the clinical implications of these findings.Keywords: Haematologic abnormalities; chronic kidney disease; acute kidney injury; dialysi

The influence of sociodemographic factors, knowledge and attitude on the practice of blood donation

Background: Maintaining a constant supply of blood in the blood bank is essential to the practice of medicine today. Safe supplies can only be achieved by continual recruitment and retention of voluntary blood donors which is based on effective and efficient education/intervention.Aim: The study was aimed at assessing the knowledge, attitude and practice of blood donation amongst adults in Mushin local government of Lagos and determining the factors which affect the practice of blood donation.Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study involving 360 adults recruited using a multistage sampling technique. A structured pre-tested questionnaire was used to collected data on knowledge, attitude and practice. Data analysed using SPSS version 21. Frequency and percentages were calculated for categorical data and mean was determined for continuous data. Association was determined by unconditional logistic regression. Statistical significance was considered at P=0.05.Results: The mean age of respondents was 35.08± 11.6years and males accounted for 54.89% (194) of study population. Two hundred and forty three (67.5%) had adequate knowledge of blood donation while 315(87.5%) had a favourable attitude. Only 63(17.5%) had ever donated blood before. Males, who had adequate knowledge (AOR=7.128, CI=2.55-19.91), tertiary education (AOR=6.433, CI=2.084-19.85) and between the ages of 41-50years (AOR=6.027, CI=2.655-13.680) had greater odds of donating blood. Fear was the major deterrent to donation blood.Conclusion: The practice of blood donation was low. Key determinants for the practice of blood donation were male sex, adequacy of knowledge, tertiary education and age between 41 and 50years.Keywords: Voluntary non remunerated donors, knowledge, attitude, practice, blood donatio