Key result
Elevated cardiac markers in sickle cell disease are linked to higher mortality and frequent ER visits.
Why the study?
In patients with sickle cell disease, both cardiovascular complications and vaso-occlusive crises elevate cardiac marker levels, making it challenging to determine their source and identify myocardial infarction.
Are cardiac marker levels (LDH, troponin, CK-MB) associated with clinical outcomes such as mortality and frequency of emergency room visits in adult patients with sickle cell disease presenting with vaso-occlusive crisis?
Cohort (n=270)
No
Are cardiac marker levels (LDH, troponin, CK-MB) associated with clinical outcomes such as mortality and frequency of emergency room visits in adult patients with sickle cell disease presenting with vaso-occlusive crisis?
In adult patients with sickle cell disease presenting to the emergency room for vaso-occlusive crisis, elevated cardiac markers (LDH, troponin, CK-MB) are significantly associated with older age, more frequent ER visits, and higher mortality.
May aid SCD risk stratification in ER settings; leaves open whether markers improve outcomes in prospective studies.
Background: Millions of people worldwide suffer from a genetic hemoglobinopathy known as sickle cell disease (SCD). It is a long-term condition marked by progressive multiorgan failure. Among SCD patients, cardiovascular complications are the main leading cause of death. Cardiovascular complications raise cardiac markers levels as well as sickle cell vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC). This makes it challenging to determine the source. This research aims to identify the association between cardiac markers and myocardial infarction in SCD patients at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Material and Method: This retrospective study was conducted from June 2022 to March 2023. All patients with SCD who were 18 years and above were enrolled. Cardiac markers’ associations with age, emergency room visits, ECG, blood transfusion, hydroxyurea, anticoagulants, and mortality were analyzed. Results: 537 patient records were screened during the study period, of which 270 met the inclusion criteria. Among these, 144 (53.3%) were female. The prevalence of elevated LDH, troponin, and CK-MB among the SCD patients who visited the ER for VOC was 78.5%, 9.3%, and 6.3%, respectively. Overall, there was a significant relationship between cardiac marker level and the number of ER visits, age, and mortality (p = 0.01), but there was no significant association between cardiac marker level and hydroxyurea use, antiplatelet/anticoagulant use, need for blood transfusion, or ECG abnormalities. Conclusion: This retrospective research shed light on the significance of cardiac marker levels in patients with SCD. The level of cardiac markers was remarkably linked with age, frequency of ER visits, and patients’ states.
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Al-Marzouki et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Sickle cell disease (SCD) presenting to the emergency room for vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) (n=270). Elevated cardiac markers (LDH, troponin, CK-MB) was evaluated on Association between cardiac marker levels and number of ER visits, age, and mortality (p=0.01). Elevated cardiac markers (LDH 78.5%, troponin 9.3%, CK-MB 6.3%) in sickle cell disease ER visits were significantly associated with age, ER visit frequency, and mortality (p = 0.01).
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