Pulmonary functions of children with sickle cell anaemia in steady state in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: are responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality in children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA). Spirometry is a useful tool for the detection and monitoring of respiratory disorders, but it is under-utilized by healthcare workers who care for children with sickle cell anaemia. Most of the studies assessing pulmonary functions in sickle cell anaemia were conducted among adults.Objective: To describe the lung functions profile of children with sickle cell anaemia in steady state.Methodology: In this study, spirometric indices of 100 children with SCA (HbSS) aged five years to 12 years were compared with 100 matched normal children (HbAA) in the control group.Results: Irrespective of gender, the mean Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) values were significantly higher among the HbAA controls than their HbSS counterparts. The mean Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) values of males and all subjects irrespective of gender were also significantly higher among the controls compared to HbSS subjects. The mean Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) values were higher among HbSS subjects than the HbAA controls, but the observed differences were not significant. The mean FEV1/FVC values were also not significantly different between the SCA subjects and the controls. The overall prevalence of restrictive pulmonary abnormalities among the HbSS group was 6.0% whereas none of the HbAA group had restrictive pulmonary disorders.Conclusion: Children with SCA, irrespective of gender, have significantly lower PEFR and FEV1. Restrictive lung abnormalities occur exclusively among subjects with SCA

Evaluation of Peak Expiratory Flow rates (PEFR) of Workers in a Cerment Factory in Port Harcout South-South; Nigeria

Occupational lung diseases (OLD) remain one of the most common workplace health challenges since the industrial revolution. One of the risks for OLD is the exposure to cement dust which is associated with varying degrees of respiratory symptoms and reduction in lung function. This study aimed to measure the peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) of workers in a cement manufacturing company in Port Harcourt and estimate the determinants of the measured rates.Method: In this descriptive cross-sectional study; 105 workers of a cement company who presented for the annual fitness to work exercise were sampled and had their peak expiratory flow rates measured using a spirometer. Data were also collected using structured interviewer-administered questionnaires and a walk through survey carried out to examine workplace situation. The results were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: The study showed that 13.3 of the workers had abnormal (i.e low) PEFR. The lowest mean PEFR of 327.5L/min was found among workers who had worked for 21 23 years and worked mainly at the production and bagging area. Most of the workers (81.9) made effective use of some form of personal protective equipment (PPE).Conclusion: Reduction in the PEFR implied that prolonged exposure to cement dust may result in decreased lung function and by extension pulmonary disease. The high percentage of normal PEFR found among the workers; irrespective of their duration of work; could be attributed to the effective use of the PPE