Incidence of Sickle Cell Disease and Its Complications: A Study in Tertiary Care Centre of Central India

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited hemoglobin disorder caused by a mutation in the β-globin gene, resulting in HbS formation and red cell sickling. It is associated with chronic anemia, vaso-occlusive manifestations, and multiple systemic complications. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of SCD and assess its clinical, hematological, and complication profile among children in Central India. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based, cross-sectional prospective observational study was conducted over two years in the Department of Paediatrics at SSIMS, Junwani, Bhilai, Chhattisgarh. A total of 225 children aged 6 months to 18 years were enrolled using consecutive sampling. Clinical assessment and hematological investigations were performed. Sickling test was used for screening, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for confirmation and characterization of hemoglobin variants. Results: Among 225 children, 19 (8.44%) had a positive sickling test. The mean age of SCD-positive children was 7.16 ± 3.40 years, with males comprising 73.68%. Pallor was present in 73.68%, while anemia was observed in 89.47%, with a mean hemoglobin of 8.81 ± 2.21 g/dL. The mean HbS level on HPLC was 50.84 ± 17.99%. Blood transfusion history was present in 21.05% of children, while 57.89% were receiving hydroxyurea. Fever was the most common complication (36.84%), followed by abdominal pain and chest pain (15.79% each). Compared with non-SCD children, pallor and anemia were significantly more frequent among SCD children (P<0.0001). Conclusion: SCD was identified in 8.44% of the studied children and was associated with substantial anemia, pallor, and varied systemic complications. Early identification using sickling testing and HPLC, with appropriate clinical management, may help reduce disease-related morbidity