Comparative Study of Autopsy Findings in Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) At South Eastern Tertiary Hospital, Nigeria

What is it about?

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the commonest hemoglobinopathy associated with increased morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a public health emergency. Unravelling the causes of death among people living with SCD (PLWSCD) is a major challenge in this part of the world where autopsy is rarely done. This retrospective study of autopsy findings in SCD-related death aimed at creating the awareness among physicians and relatives of PLWSCD on the importance of the latter as a useful tool to minimize future unexpected death from complications or crisis and to enhance knowledge and QOL of the duo and PLWSCD respectively.

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Why is it important?

This study revealed the common causes of death in SCD in our region in their descending order: infection (36%- septicemia and meningitis), anemic heart failure (25.3%- possibly secondary to malaria or iron overload/deficiency, etc), PE, and CVA. This study compared the common causes of death in SCD in sub-Saharan Africa with that of western world. From this study, whereas infection and anemic heart failure were the first-two leading causes in subSaharan Africa, Acute chest syndrome (50%) , Acute splenic syndrome, renal failure (11% each) were the leading causes in United Kingdom.

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