Ten-Year Review of Hospital Admissions among Children with Sickle Cell Disease in Kuwait

Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to document the common causes and patterns of hospitalization among sickle cell disease (SCD) patients in Kuwait. Subjects and Methods: The case files of all SCD patients admitted to the hospital between 1995 and 2004 were studied. Their personal data, hemoglobin genotype, diagnosis on admission, complete blood count, treatment received, length of stay and outcome were documented. Results: Fifty SCD patients aged from 10 months to 14.8 years (mean: 8.7 ± 2.8 years) had 351 admissions over the 10-year period accounting for 0.6% of all admissions to the pediatric wards. The 50 patients were made up of 18 Hb SS, 28 Sβ⁰thal and 4 Hb SD patients. Common causes of admission were vaso-occlusive crisis: 222 (63.2%), acute splenic sequestration crisis: 32 (9.1%), hemolytic crisis: 31 (8.8%) and acute chest syndrome: 23 (6.6%). Stroke was seen in only 1 patient, and bacteriologically proven (Salmonella) acute osteomyelitis in 1 patient. There were no deaths during the study period. Conclusions: Vaso-occlusive crisis was the commonest cause of hospitalization among our SCD patients. Efforts should be intensified to give advice on preventive measures. The use of hydroxyurea should be encouraged in patients with frequent severe pain crises.

A study of clinical and hematological profile of children with sickle cell disease in a tertiary care hospital, Valsad, India

“…In a study by Akar NA. 17 Vaso-occlusive crisis was the most common cause of hospitalization in SCD children. Another study from central India has reported severe anemia requiring blood transfusion as the most common cause of hospitalization in SCD childrens.…”

Pattern of Bone Mineral Density in Sickle Cell Disease Patients with the High-Hb F Phenotype

“…This would preserve BMD with less prevalence of osteopenia/osteoporosis. On the other hand, VOC is the commonest cause of hospital admission among our patients, and AVNFH is quite common [25]. Some previous studies have shown an increase in the prevalence of osteosclerosis in SCD patients with frequent VOC [13,14,15].…”

Hospitalisations for sickle‐cell disease in an Australian paediatric population

“…Vaso-occlusive pain is the most common reason for admission in this SCD population (n = 187; 70.8%) and the same is true for overseas SCD paediatric cohorts. [11][12][13] Infection was also shown to be a common primary complication leading to admission (n = 32; 12.1%). Infection also occurred as a morbidity alongside 36 VOC episodes.…”