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Pulmonary function indices in children with sickle cell anemia in Enugu, south-east Nigeria
Kingsley I Achigbu1, Odutola I Odetunde, Josephat M Chinawa
1Department of Pediatrics, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. E-mail. kachigbu@yahoo.com.
Insights
Children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) exhibit significantly reduced pulmonary function, including lower forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). These findings highlight potential respiratory complications in pediatric SCA patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Hematology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a genetic blood disorder with systemic complications.
- Pulmonary dysfunction is a recognized but understudied complication in pediatric SCA.
- Assessing lung function in SCA is crucial for comprehensive patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate pulmonary function indices in Nigerian children with SCA.
- To compare lung function in SCA patients with healthy controls.
- To identify potential regional differences in SCA-related pulmonary function.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 80 participants (40 SCA, 40 controls) aged 6-20 years.
- Spirometry was used to measure peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1).
- Data collected between October 2014 and January 2015 at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu.
Main Results:
- Children with SCA demonstrated significantly lower FEV1, FVC, and PEFR compared to controls.
- While some differences were not statistically significant in males, female SCA patients showed significantly reduced lung function compared to female controls.
- Specific mean values for FEV1, FVC, and PEFR were lower in the SCA group.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric SCA patients have significantly impaired lung function compared to individuals with hemoglobin genotype AA.
- These findings underscore the importance of monitoring respiratory health in children with SCA.
- Further research is needed to compare these results with other regions and explore interventions.
Objectives:
To determine the pulmonary function indices of children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) attending the pediatric sickle cell clinic at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, south-east Nigeria and to compare these indices with the results obtained from other regions.
Methods:
A case control study of lung function in children with SCA aged 6-20 years. The study was carried out in the University of Nigeria/University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu State, Nigeria between October 2014 and January 2015. Measurements of the peak expiratory flow rate, forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were evaluated.
Results:
A total of 80 subjects were recruited into the study, comprising 40 homozygous HbSS (hemoglobin SS) patients and an equal number of controls. Children with SCA had statistically lower values of FEV1 (1.6±0.52), FVC (1.76±0.95), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) (309.00±82.64) when compared with normal hemoglobin genotype FEV1 (12.01±0.53), FVC (2.12±0.54), and PEFR (364.10±87.85). The mean FVC, FEV1/FVC, and PEFR were also higher in the male control group compared with the HbSS male group, but these differences were not statistically significant. Female controls had significantly larger FEV1, FVC, and PEFR values compared with the HbSS females.
Conclusion:
The lung function indices were significantly lower in children and adolescents with SCA compared with the matched controls with a hemoglobin genotype AA.
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