Clinical Characteristics of Sickle Cell Disease Patients with Leg Ulcer in Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited chronic haemolytic disorder in Nigeria. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to review the clinical characteristics of patients with leg ulcers attending the adult clinic of sickle cell disease in Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, Nigeria.

Methodology: This is a retrospective descriptive study that analysed the records of 31 patients with leg ulcers registered with the sickle cell clinic of MMSH, Kano, Nigeria from July 2019 to December 2022. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 12.0.

Results: The minimum and maximum age of the patients were 15 years and 38 years, respectively, with a mean± SD of 23.4±6.5. More than a quarter of the patients (38.7%) were traders. The majority of the patients (71.0%) had a single leg ulcer, while more than a quarter (29%) had multiple ulcers. About two-thirds of the patients (64.5%) had an ulcer duration of less than 6 weeks. The majority of the patients had a history of blood transfusion in the past. About one-fifth of the patients (22.6%) had a history of hospitalization in the last 1 year, while 81% of the patients had a history of at least one vaso-occlusive crisis event in the last 1 year. One-third of the patients (32 %) of the patients had 3 or more vaso-occlusive crisis events in the last 1 year. About half of the male patients (45%) had a prior history of priapism in the past.

Conclusion: The majority of the sickle cell disease patients with leg ulcer in MMSH are males, with chronic ulcers and a history of prior blood transfusion. Government and clinicians should intensify health promotional activities and preventive interventions to prevent sickle cell disease-associated complications like leg ulcer.