ABSTRACT
Aims: Alcoholism is a global public health problem with significant socioeconomic implications. The aim was to investigate the effect of alcoholism on the haematological and haemostatic parameters of consecutively recruited alcoholics in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State and North Western Nigeria. Study Design and Methodology: This prospective case-control study included one hundred adults alcoholics [≥18 years), aged range (18-60), mean age (38.46 ± 13.26) and made up of 68 males (68%) and 32 females (32%)]. Fifty gender and age matched non-alcoholics were monitored as controls. Ethical approval was obtained from the research and ethics committee in the Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, North Western Nigeria. Written informed consent was obtained from all study subjects after counselling. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at the service laboratory in the Department of Haematology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science in Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto North Western Nigeria between May 2011 to February, 2012. Result: Participants for this study included 50 heavy alcoholics and 50 moderate alcoholics (subjects) and 50 age and gender –matched non-alcoholics (controls). Platelet count of non-alcoholics, moderate and heavy alcoholics was; 260.7 ± 48.17, 253.3 ± 43.16 and 130.6 ± 6.79 respectively. Platelet count was significantly lower among heavy alcoholics compared to non-alcoholics (p=0.0001). Although marginally higher, there was no statistically significant difference in the platelet count of moderate alcoholics and non-alcoholics (p=0.10). We observed a negative correlation between platelet count and duration of alcoholism (r=-0.62). The mean prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) values of non-alcoholics, moderate alcoholics and heavy alcoholics was; (14.46 ± 0.97 and 34.82 ± 13.71), (15.74 ± 1.26 and 35.78 ± 3.50) and (19.46 ± 0.93 and 43.42 ± 5.13) respectively. Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time values were significantly lower among heavy alcoholics compared to non-alcoholics (p=0.0001). PT and APTT were marginally higher among moderate alcoholics compared to non-alcoholics but the difference however was not statistically significant (p= 0.08 and 0.62 respectively). We observed a positive correlation between duration of alcoholism and prolonged prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time (r = 0.46 and 0.55 respectively). Conclusion: Our study has shown that alcoholism produces a significant adverse effect on some haematological and haemostatic parameters. Evidenced data generated from this study can facilitate the development of a policy on the effective management of haematological and haemostatic complications associated with alcoholism. There is need to enact laws that regulate the production, sales and consumption of various alcoholic beverages to prevent abuse and protect the health of citizens.