HOSPITALIZATION TRENDS AND MORBIDITIES IN SICKLE CELL ANEMIA: A CENTRAL INDIA PERSPECTIVE

Background and Objective: Sickle cell anemia is a common genetic disorder characterized by recurrent crisis, complications, and significant morbidity, particularly in children. This study aimed to investigate the pattern, type, and frequency of crisis, systemic complications, and morbidity profile in hospitalized children with sickle cell disease (SCD) at Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandrapur.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted over a year, from November 2023 to October 2024, involving 133 hospitalized children aged 0-12 years diagnosed with SCD, including both previously and newly diagnosed cases through Hemoglobin Electrophoresis. The study collected data on hospitalization frequency, crisis types, systemic complications, and morbidity. Children were evaluated for symptoms, clinical findings, and laboratory parameters related to sickle cell crisis and organ failure.

Results: The most common presenting symptom was pain, observed in 53.94% of the children, with bone pain, abdominal pain, and joint pain being the predominant types. Fever seen in 45.18% and pallor in 26.75% were the next most frequent symptoms, followed by jaundice in 21.05% and respiratory complaints such as cough in 13.60% and breathlessness in 11.40% patients. The majority of hospitalizations were due to vaso-occlusive crisis as seen in 53.94%, followed by severe anemia in 35.52% and acute febrile illness in 43% of patients. Systemic complications included hepatomegaly (65.78%), splenomegaly (45.61%), and respiratory distress (8.33%). Acute chest syndrome (3.55%), hemolytic crisis (14.9%), and splenic sequestration crisis (5.70%) were also notable findings.

Conclusion: In children with sickle cell anemia, VOC, febrile illnesses, and severe anemia are the leading causes of morbidity and hospitalization. Bone and abdominal pain were common symptoms, frequently associated with fever. The study highlights the need for community-based screening, parental counseling, and antenatal interventions to reduce the burden of sickle cell disease in tribal populations.