Key result
Elevated cardiac markers during sickle cell crisis 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 the underlying source and identify myocardial infarction.
Are elevated cardiac marker levels during emergency room visits associated with age, ER visit frequency, and mortality in adult patients with sickle cell disease?
Observational (n=270)
No
Are elevated cardiac marker levels during emergency room visits associated with age, ER visit frequency, and mortality in adult patients with sickle cell disease?
In adults with sickle cell disease presenting to the ER with vaso-occlusive crisis, elevated cardiac markers (particularly LDH at 78.5% and troponin at 9.3%) are significantly associated with age, frequency of ER visits, and mortality.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Cardiac marker elevations during SCD crises were associated with mortality; hypothesis-generating for risk stratification, needs prospective validation.
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 complication raises cardiac markers level as well as sickle cell vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC). This makes it challenging to determine the source. Methods: This research aims to identify the association between cardiac markers and myocardial infarction in SCD patients At King Abdulaziz University (KAUH) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 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. Result: 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 ER for the VOC was 78.5%, 9.3%, and 6.3%, respectively. Overall, there was a significant relationship between the cardiac marker level and the number of ER visits, age and mortality (p= 0.01), but there was no significant association between the cardiac marker level and for each of the following: hydroxyurea use, antiplatelet/anticoagulant use, needing of blood transfusion and ECG abnormalities. 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.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Al-Marzouki et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Sickle cell disease presenting to the emergency room with vaso-occlusive crisis (n=270). Elevated cardiac markers (LDH, troponin, CK-MB) during vaso-occlusive crisis was evaluated on Association of cardiac marker levels with number of ER visits, age, and mortality (p=0.01). Cardiac marker levels during sickle cell vaso-occlusive crisis ER visits (elevated LDH 78.5%, troponin 9.3%, CK-MB 6.3%) were significantly associated with age, ER visit frequency, and mortality (p=0.01).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: