Analysis of Causes of Hospitalization Among Children with Sickle Cell Disease in a Group of Private Hospitals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Figures & data

Table 1 Basic Characteristics of the Studied Group

Basic Characteristics	Study Group (n=94)
	Number	%
Age
< 7 years	40	42.6
≥ 7–14 years	54	57.4
Sex
Male	56	59.6
Female	38	40.4
Nationality
Saudi	51	54.3
Non-Saudi	43	45.7
Diagnosis
SCD	84	89.4
Sickle thalassemia	10	10.6
Treatment Modalities
Oral penicillin V (ospen)	37	39.4
Folic acid tablets	61	64.9
Hydroxyurea	30	31.9
Blood transfusion
Regular	26	27.7
On demand	68	72.3
Length of hospitalization (days) (mean ± SD)	4.1 ± 1.94
Minimum	1 day
Maximum	10 days
Hematologic parameters (mean ± SD)
White blood cells (10^9/l)	17.1 ± 7
Hemoglobin (g/dl)	8.2 ± 1.5
Platelets (10^9 /l)	380.7 ± 301.4
Reticulocyte count (%)	5.5 ± 2.2

Figure 1 Bar-chart showed the different causes of admissions among children with SCA.

Figure 2 Bar-chart showed the frequency of vaso-occlusive crisis by body region.

Table 2 Relation Between Causes of Hospital Admissions and Age Group Among the Studied Group

Clinical Presentation	Age Group (n= 94)		P-value
	< 7 Years (n= 40)	≥ 7 Years (n= 54)
Painful crisis (n=61)	21 (34.4%)	40 (65.6%)	0.02*
Limb pain (n=43)	13 (30.2%)	30 (69.8%)	0.03*
Back pain (n=32)	9 (28.1%)	23 (71.9%)	0.04*
Abdominal pain (n=16)	7 (43.8%)	9 (56.2%)	0.92
Acute chest syndrome (n=17)	9 (52.9%)	8 (47.1%)	0.34
Acute hemolytic crisis (n=12)	5 (41.7%)	7 (58.3%)	0.95
Infections (n=23)	16 (69.6%)	7 (30.4%)	0.003*
Recurrent crisis (n=40)	15 (37.5%)	25 (62.5%)	0.39

Notes: n = number, chi-square test; *Significant value.

Table 3 The Length of Hospital Stay in Relation to Different Factors

Variables		Length of Hospital Stay				p-value
		≤ 4 Days		> 4 Days
		Number	%	Number	%
Gender	Females	23	39.7%	15	41.7%	0.847
	Males	35	60.3%	21	58.3%
Age groups	< 7 years	22	37.9%	18	50.0%	0.25
	≥ 7 years	36	62.1%	18	50.0%
Nationality	Non-Saudi	26	44.8%	17	47.2%	0.821
	Saudi	32	55.2%	19	52.8%
VOC	No	17	29.3%	16	44.4%	0.135
	Yes	41	70.7%	20	55.6%
Limb pain	No	32	55.2%	19	52.8%	0.821
	Yes	26	44.8%	17	47.2%
Back pain	No	34	58.6%	28	77.8%	0.057
	Yes	24	41.4%	8	22.2%
Abdominal pain	No	49	84.5%	29	80.6%	0.622
	Yes	9	15.5%	7	19.4%
Generalized pain	No	52	89.7%	29	80.6%	0.214
	Yes	6	10.3%	7	19.4%
Infections	No	49	84.5%	22	61.1%	0.01*
	Yes	9	15.5%	14	38.9%
ACS	No	55	94.8%	22	61.1%	<0.001*
	Yes	3	5.2%	14	38.9%
Hemolytic crisis	No	48	82.8%	34	94.4%	0.099
	Yes	10	17.2%	2	5.6%
Recurrent crisis	No	35	60.3%	19	52.8%	0.471
	Yes	23	39.7%	17	47.2%
Ospen	No	39	67.2%	18	50.0%	0.096
	Yes	19	32.8%	18	50.0%
Folic acid	No	19	32.8%	14	38.9%	0.55
	Yes	39	67.2%	22	61.1%
HU	No	35	60.3%	29	80.6%	0.04*
	Yes	23	39.7%	7	19.4%

Notes: chi-square test, *Significant value.

Abbreviations: VOC, vaso-occlusive crisis; ACS, acute chest syndrome; HU, hydroxyurea.