Comparison of patients from Nigeria and the USA highlights modifiable risk factors for sickle cell anemia complications Journal Article


Authors: Akingbola, T. S.; Tayo, B. O.; Salako, B; Layden, J. E.; Hsu, L. L.; Cooper, R. S.; Gordeuk, V. R.; Saraf, S. L.
Article Title: Comparison of patients from Nigeria and the USA highlights modifiable risk factors for sickle cell anemia complications
Abstract: To identify factors that affect manifestations of sickle cell anemia we compared patients 11-30 years of age from University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria (n = 214) and University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA (n = 209). Paralleling findings in the general populations of the two countries, the Chicago patients were more often overweight or obese as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, GA, USA) guidelines, and more often had elevated blood pressure (BP) as defined by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Bethesda, MD, USA guidelines. The Ibadan patients did not receive the pneumococcal vaccine or hydroxyurea (HU) therapy as frequently as the Chicago patients. Consistent with lower rates of elevated BP and increased body mass index (BMI), stroke history was less frequent in the Ibadan patients >/=18 years old. Furthermore, in combined analyses, systolic and diastolic BP directly correlated with BMI, and elevated weight status independently associated with history of stroke. Our findings are consistent with the possibility that higher values for BMI and BP in Chicago sickle cell anemia patients may contribute to an increased risk of stroke and highlights the need for measures to reduce these risk factors. On the other hand, lower pneumococcal vaccination and HU therapy rates in Ibadan patients highlights the need for more improved vaccination coverage and for studies to define the role of HU therapy in Africa.
Journal Title: Hemoglobin
Volume: 38
Issue: 4
ISSN: 1532-432X; 0363-0269
Publisher: Unknown  
Journal Place: England
Date Published: 2014
Start Page: 236
End Page: 243
Language: eng
DOI/URL:
Notes: GR: 2013140/Doris Duke Charitable Foundation/United States; GR: 5R01HL053353/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States; GR: 5R03TW008695/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States; GR: KL2 TR000048/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States; GR: KL2TR000048/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States; GR: R01 HL053353/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States; GR: R03 TW008695/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States; JID: 7705865; NIHMS624676; OID: NLM: NIHMS624676 [Available on 06/18/15]; OID: NLM: PMC4161131 [Available on 06/18/15]; OTO: NOTNLM; PMCR: 2015/06/18 00:00; 2014/06/18 [aheadofprint]; ppublish