Epidemiology of Leg Ulcers in Sickle Cell Disease Patients- A Multicenter Study
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Abstract
Background: Sickle cell leg ulcers contribute to significant morbidity in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Nigeria has the highest burden of SCD with a significant proportion of affected patients having chronic leg ulcers. This study aimed to determine the sociodemographic, clinical and haematological characteristics of SCD patients with leg ulcers in Benin City, Nigeria.
Methodology: This was a multicenter based cross-sectional study conducted at the University of Benin Teaching hospital (UBTH) and the sickle center, Benin City between June 2023 and November 2023 among SCD patients. Eighty-eight persons were recruited in this study, comprising of 33 SCD patients with leg ulcers, 33 SCD patients and 22 genotype AA individuals. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.
Results: The mean age (SD) of SCD patients with leg ulcers, SCD controls and HbAA controls were 29±6.6yrs, 29.3±5.9yrs and 29.9±6.7yrs respectively. The differences in mean age across the study groups were not statistically significant (p=0.932). Nineteen (57.6%) individuals with sickle cell leg ulcers were females and 14 (42.4%) were males. There was no statistically significant difference in the sex distribution (p=0.521).
Conclusion: The prevalence of leg ulcers in SCD reduced with increasing age. Most leg ulcers occurred on the right leg at the medial malleolus and full blood count showed significantly elevated platelet count in patients with chronic leg ulcers compared to controls.
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