Correlates of transfusion transmissible infections among patients with sickle cell disease in Nigeria: case-control study.

ABSTRACT

Transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) such as Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are among the most frequent complications in individuals with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). We investigated factors associated with TTIs in SCD patients and controls in South-west Nigeria. A total of 2,034 participants with or without SCD were recruited in a matched case-control study. HIV, HBV and HCV infections were diagnosed using commercialy available ELISA kits (Biorad, Paris). Samples positive for HIV ELISA were further confirmed using Western blot. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired/independent t-test and logistic regression at p = .05. Proportion with HBV was higher among those with multiple sexual partners (12.7%), tattoo/body incision (11.8%), and sharing of sharp objects (7.3%), but HIV was only higher among participants with history of tattoo/body incision (1.5%). Prevalence of TTIs was similar among participants with or without transfusion. History of sharing sharp objects (adjusted odds ratios (aOR) = 1.72; 95%CI1.11-2.66) and tattoo/body incision (aOR = 1.89; 95%CI1.22-2.94) almost doubled the risk of HBV. TTIs are endemic in the studied area. Certain lifestyles predispose people to TTIs than having blood transfusion. Population-based intervention targeting lifestyle changes may reduce the risk of TTIs in the study area.Abbrveviations AA Hemoglobin AA; AC Hemoglobin AC; aOR adjusted Odds Ratios; AS Hemoglobin AS; CHOP Children Outpatient; CI Confidence Interval; EDTA Ethylenediamine Tetraacetic Acid; GOP General Outpatient; HBV Hepatitis B Virus; HCV Hepatitis C Virus; HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus; HPLC High Performance Liquid Chromatography; IAMRAT Advanced Medical Research & Training; IDU Injection Drug Use; MOP Medical Outpatient; SC Hemoglobin SC; SCD Sickle cell disease; SD Standard Deviation; SF Hemoglobin SF; SS Hemoglobin SS; STDs Sexually Transmitted Diseases; TTI Transfusion transmissible infections; UCH University College Hospital Ibadan; UI University of Ibadan.