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Updated: Apr 26, 2026
A Precision Medicine Tool for Measurement and Monitoring of Hemoglobin S in Sickle Cell Disease Patients Receiving Transfusion Therapy
Analgesic Utilization Pattern and Cost of Managing Children with Sickle Cell Diseases: a Retrospective Single-site
I A Ogunyinka1, K A Oshikoya2, K B Yusuff3
1Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, PMB 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria. ibrahim.abayomi@udusok.edu.ng.
Insights
Parental consanguinity and analgesic use significantly predict sickle cell disease (SCD) severity and healthcare costs in children. Understanding these factors is crucial for managing this inherited blood disorder and its economic impact.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Genetics
- Public Health
Background:
- Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a severe inherited blood disorder with a significant global health and economic burden.
- It is a β-haemoglobinopathy resulting from abnormal hemoglobin structure or production.
- SCD affects multiple organ systems and poses a considerable challenge in developing settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify predictors of SCD severity in children.
- To determine factors influencing SCD care costs.
- To understand the economic impact of SCD in a developing country context.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective chart review of 2503 children with SCD in a developing setting.
- Collection and analysis of sociodemographic, clinical, and cost data.
- Statistical analysis using SPSS version 26.0, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05.
Main Results:
- Parental consanguinity and specific analgesic use were major predictors of SCD severity (hospitalization frequency and duration).
- Analgesic use (non-opioids, opioids) and parental consanguinity were key predictors of healthcare costs (analgesics, inpatient care).
- School attendance and comorbidities also predicted outpatient care costs, while pentazocine use predicted total patient care costs.
Conclusions:
- Parental consanguinity is a significant predictor of both SCD severity and associated healthcare costs.
- Analgesic use patterns are strongly associated with increased SCD severity and care expenditures.
- These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and support for families affected by SCD, particularly in consanguineous populations.
Background Information:
Sickle cell disease (SCD), a β-haemoglobinopathy, is a neglected multi-system disorder caused by inherited abnormal haemoglobin structure or production and leads to catastrophic economic burden on affected households and societies. We assessed the predictors of both SCD severity and SCD care costs.
Methods:
This is a retrospective chart review of eligible children with SCD in a developing setting. Their sociodemographic, clinical and costs data were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 26.0 with p ≤ 0.05 considered significant.
Results:
Overall 2503 children with SCD (female: 1053 [51.3%]; median (interquartile range) age: 4.00 (5.75) years and range age: 0.08-14.00 years) participated in the study with their median (interquartile range) age at first pain crisis, age at first hospitalization, costs of outpatient, inpatient and total patient care; analgesics and laboratory investigations being 1.00 (1.25) years, 1.00 (1.13) years, 89.8 (110.6) USD, 47.9 (63.4) USD and 200.4 (158.8) USD; 3.8 (3.5) USD and 28.6 (16.9) USD respectively. The major predictors of SCD severity were [hospitalization frequency: use of parenteral non-opioids (odds ratio (OR): 8.65; 95% CI:3.84-19.46; p < 0.001) and having a history of parental consanguinity (OR: 6.28; 95% CI:1.59-24.86; p = 0.009); hospitalization duration: having a history of parental consanguinity (OR: 3.73; 95% CI:2.03-6.83; p < 0.001) and type of oral analgesics (OR: 3.28; 95% CI:2.57-4.17; p < 0.001)]. The major predictors of the following cost variables were: analgesics [total amount of non-opioids (OR: 2.34; 95% CI:2.10-2.60; p < 0.001) and total number of oral opioids (OR: 4.56; 95% CI:3.60-5.78; p < 0.001)]; laboratory investigation [total amount of oral opioids (OR: 1.41; 95% CI:1.27-1.56; p = 0.0005)]; outpatient care [school attendance (OR: 20.64; 95% CI:10.47-40.69; p < 0.001), comorbidity (OR: 2.68; 95% CI:1.52-4.75; p < 0.001) and pentazocine (OR: 1.32; 95% CI:1.12-1.56; p < 0.001)]; inpatient care [having a history of parental consanguinity (OR: 10.67; 95% CI:4.81-23.67; p < 0.001)] and total patient care [pentazocine (OR: 14.75; 95% CI:10.17-35.68; p < 0.001)].
Conclusion:
Consanguinity and analgesics use were the major predictors of both SCD severity and SCD care costs.
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