The application of a modified follow-up life table technique to the study of outpatient clinic services for sickle-cell patients.
A cohort of 60 matched pairs of sickle-cell anaemia (SS) patients from Ibadan, Nigeria and Oakland, California, were compared in a follow-up study. The null hypothesis tested was that there was no significant difference in the morbidity associated with sickle-cell anaemia among Ibadan SS patients receiving antimalarial prophylaxis and Oakland SS patients. Proportions of all clinic visits during which the patients had crises or infections associated with sickle cell anaemia (SSINF) were used as measures of morbidity. A modification of the follow-up life table was used for the analysis. Plots of PX and its confidence bands against frequency of clinic visits due to crises and SSINF were drawn. The Kruskal Wallis test was used to determine any significant differences in the probability of SS patients from either of the two centres visiting the clinic because of crises or SSINF. The results showed no significant differences in these probabilities.
D000206:Actuarial Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002140:California; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*