Clinico-Epidemiological Study of Patients Suffering from Sickle Cell Anaemia In a District Level Private Hospital of a Tribal District in South Gujarat

Introduction: Sickle cell disorder is an autosomal recessive condition, in which inheritance of an affected gene from both parents results in a disorder. According to hospital based epidemiological survey, the prevalence of sickle cell gene is observed among tribal population, which accounts for 15 % of the total population of Gujarat and are distributed in various districts. Objectives: To study clinical profile, epidemiological characteristics and socio-demographic features of persons having sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait and establish relationships if any of the epidemiological profile with the clinical and sociodemographic features of the study subject Method: The study was carried out in Janak Smarak hospital in Vyara Town, Tapi District. It was a descriptive cross-sectional study for a period of one year and minimum of 75 persons with sickle cell disease and 150 persons with sickle cell trait was taken for the study Results: Proportion of females affected were more than that of the male. Majority of the participants belonged to Gamit caste and most of them were Hindus. Majority of the participants were married and it was significantly associated with Sickle cell status of the individuals. Majority of sickle cell disease patients had clinical manifestations of sickle cell crisis like pain in both upper and lower limbs; weakness, fever and body ache and sign of pallor. Nearly half of the sickle cell disease patients had a history of blood transfusion Conclusion: Family history and predisposition happens to remain one of the most important predictors of the Sickle cell status among the population. Nearly more than half of the Sickle Cell Disease patients needed regular transfusion with Blood or any of its components. This points out the necessity of establishing these units in higher numbers in tribal areas