Research Article
Factors Associated with Growth Retardation in Children Suffering from Sickle Cell Anemia: First Report from Central Africa
Table 1
Characteristics of the study population.
| | Parameters | Patients
() |
| | Age, years | | | Mean (SD) | | | Age distribution, years | | | <4 years, (%) | (31.6) | | 5–9 years, (%) | (32.5) | | 10–14 years, (%) | (25) | | ≥15 years, (%) | (10.9) | | Gender | | | Male, (%) | 118 (46.1) | | Female, (%) | 138 (53.9) | | Anthropometrics parameters | | | Mean weight (kg) (range) | (7–62) | | Mean height (cm) (range) | (63–172) | | Mean BMI, | (10.9–22.9) | | Clinical findings | | | Hepatomegaly, (%) | 136 (53.1) | | Splenomegaly, (%) | 109 (41.7) | | Sickle cell crises | | | Haemolysis, (%) | 136 (53.1) | | Severe pain crisis, (%) | 170 (66.4) | | Hand-foot syndrome, (%) | 85 (33.2) | | Severe infection, (%) | 45 (17.6) | | splenic sequestration, (%) | 19 (7.4) | | Mean age at the first pain crisis (range), months | (2–108) | | Mean age at the first transfusion (range), months | (2–132) | | Number of severe pain crises/year, (range) | (1–20) | | Number of blood transfusions, (range) | (0–30) | | Laboratory features | | | Mean Hb (g/dl) | (4.3–11) | | Mean Ht (%) | (12.2–35) | | Mean WBCs (103/mm3) | (4.6–34.2) | | Mean platelets (103/mm3) (range) | (114–582) |
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, body mass index; Hb, hemoglobin; Ht, hematocrit; WBCs, white blood cells.
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