Ten-year review of hospital admissions among children with sickle cell disease in Kuwait.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to document the common causes and patterns of hospitalization among sickle cell disease (SCD) patients in Kuwait.


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 S beta(0)thal 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.
Akar
Najwa Ali
NA
Department of Pediatrics, Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, Kuwait University, Kuwait.
Adekile
Adekunle
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000986:Antisickling Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D007730:Kuwait; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D000986:Antisickling Agents; D006918:Hydroxyurea