Arterial blood pressure in adult Nigerians with sickle cell anemia

SummaryAim and objectiveThis study was aimed at comparing the arterial blood pressures in steady state adult sickle cell patients with those of age- and sex-matched healthy controls.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study of 62 sickle cell anemia patients and 62 age- and sex-matched healthy controls was carried out in the adult outpatient sickle cell clinics and the cardiac center of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, Nigeria. Brachial blood pressures were measured in the right arm in all subjects.ResultsSignificant increase in pulse rate was found in the study subjects (87.68±8.91bpm) compared with the controls (72.13±6.79bpm) (p<0.05). The mean systolic blood pressure was comparable in the two groups. However, the patients had significantly lower diastolic blood pressure, lower mean arterial blood pressure, as well as a higher pulse pressure than the control subjects. Significant correlations were found between blood pressure indices and hematocrit, body mass index, frequency of crisis, and body surface area.ConclusionRelatively lower arterial blood pressure is a significant finding in patients with sickle cell anemia. Hematocrit, frequency of crisis, body mass index, and body surface area are significant determinants of blood pressure indices in sickle cell anemia

Pattern of blood donation and characteristics of blood donors in Enugu, Southeast Nigeria

Background: Despite increasing need for blood donation in medical practice, little is known about pattern of blood donation and characteristics of blood donors in some African populations like Nigeria. This information is necessary in designing strategies and policies for improving blood transfusion services in Africa.Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the pattern of blood donation and characteristics of blood donors in Enugu, Southeast, Nigeria.Materials and Methods: A cross‑sectional study of 3377 blood donors at a tertiary hospital in Enugu, Nigeria from May 1, 2016 to April 30, 2017. Information sought included donors’ sociodemographic characteristics; type of blood donor: Voluntary nonremunerated donor (VNRD), family replacement donor (FRD), or paid donor (PD); willingness to become VNRD in the future after counseling and education (at point of entry to blood bank) on its benefits to clinical practice; hemoglobin (Hb) level; and transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs).Results: Mean age of blood donors was 28.8 ± 8.5 years, majority were male (3011, 89.2%) and students (1289, 32.8%). FRDs were the highest in number (1998, 59.2%), followed by PDs (746, 22.1%) and finally VNRDs (633, 18.7%). Of the 3377 persons that came for blood donation, 2537 (75.1%) were found eligible to donate while 840 (24.9%) were deferred on account of low Hb (602/3377, 17.8%) or positive infectious screening test (238/3377, 7.0%). The odds of a male donor being a VNRD were about one and half times that of a female donor (582/3011 [19.3%] vs. 51/366 [13.9%]; odds ratio: 1.48; 95% confidence interval: 1.09–2.02; P = 0.01). After counseling of FRDs and PDs, majority (54.3%) were willing to become VNRDs in the future. Donors’ age &gt;30 years, being of male sex, having tertiary level of education, and being employed were strongly associated with willingness to become VNRDs in the future (P &lt; 0.001).Conclusion: VNRD made up &lt;20% of the total number of donors in Enugu, Nigeria. There is a need for improvement in public enlightenment on the need for VNRDs and employment opportunities of the populace to improve voluntary blood donation.Keywords: Blood donation, blood donors, donor characteristics, patter

Electocardiographic findings in adult Nigerians with sickle cell anaemia

 Background: Cardiovascular system abnormalities are common causes of morbidity and mortality in sickle cell anaemia.Objectives: The study aims at determining the pattern of electrocardiographic changes in adult Nigerian sickle cell anaemia patients.Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was done on sixty sickle cell anaemia patients seen at the adult sickle cell clinic of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu, and sixty age and sex matched normal controls. All the subjects had clinical evaluation as well as electrocardiographic examination.Results: The mean heart rate, P-wave duration, P-wave dispersion, PR interval, QRS duration, QRS dispersion, QTc interval and QTc dispersion were significantly higher in the patients than in the control group. Electrocardiographic abnormalities identified by this study were: left ventricular hypertrophy (75%; 1.7%), left atrial enlargement (40%; 0%), biventricular hypertrophy (11%; 0), ST-segment elevation (10%; 0%) and increased P-wave and QTc dispersions. ST segment elevation was found more in patients with moderate and severe anaemia (P= 0.02, Spearman correlation r= 0.342; P= 0.007),Conclusion: Sickle cell anaemia is associated with significant electrocardiographic abnormalities. Further prospective studies are recommended to evaluate the prognostic significance of the electrocardiographic intervals dispersion on the long term disease outcome in sickle cell anaemia.Key words: electrocardiographic findings, adult, sickle cell