Abstract
Stroke is a life-changing, debilitating complication of sickle cell disease (SCD). Previous studies had recorded high stroke prevalence amongst this group of patients. Nigeria has a large population of people affected by this condition and this study aims to assess the stroke prevalence in this large population. Stroke prevalence data from 14 physicians working in 11 tertiary health centres across the country was collated by doctors using the sickle cell registers and patient case notes. This data was then collated and used to obtain the overall stroke prevalence in adult and children. The stroke prevalence in sickle cell disease patients in Nigeria was observed to be 12.4 per 1000 patients. Prevalence in the adult patients was 17.7 per 1000 patients and 7.4 per 1000 patients in children. Twenty three percent of the affected patients had more than stroke episode. The stroke prevalence in Nigeria is lower than previously recorded rates and further studies will be required to investigate other factors which may play a role.
Highlights
Stroke is a well-known debilitating complication of sickle cell disease
Other information obtained included the types of stroke and mean age of the affected patients as well as whether the physician feels there was a need to screen all sickle cell disease (SCD) patients using trans-cranial Doppler (TCD)
A total of 5,721 sickle cell patients were registered in 14 sickle clinics in 11 tertiary health institutions across the country
Summary
Stroke is a well-known debilitating complication of sickle cell disease It is a leading cause of death in children as well as adults with this condition, with a reported risk of first cerebrovascular accident (CVA) in the first 20 years of life being 0.761 per hundred patient years[1]. The relatively high prevalence rate, of this catastrophic complication in this young group of patients, has been the reason behind the adoption of screening programs, conducted early in life to detect and prevent stroke in sickle cell disease (SCD). Methodology: Stroke prevalence data from 14 physicians working in 11 tertiary health centres across the country was collated by doctors using the sickle cell registers and patient case notes.
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