Plasma lipid levels in relation to disease severity in sickle cell anaemia in Abakaliki, Southeast Nigeria

Dyslipidaemia has been implicated in the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease (SCD) complications; hence its role requires further elucidation. Objectives: To investigate the relationship between disease severity and plasma lipid levels of patients with sickle cell anaemia. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used for the survey. A total of 50 patients with sickle cell anaemia and 50 controls without SCD were recruited for the study. The clinical data and plasma lipid levels of lipids and haemoglobin parameters were analysed. Results: The majority of the participants were aged 18-25 years. Total plasma cholesterol and HDL-C were significantly lower in individuals with SCA compared with the controls (3.3±1.2 vs 4.2±1.2; p<0.001) and (1.3±0.5 vs 1.5±0.4; p = 0.038) respectively. Most patients with SCA had moderate disease severity (24; 48%). There was no statistically significant difference in the plasma levels of total cholesterol and HDL-C across the disease severity groups of SCA (p = 0.694 and 0.262). There was also no significant correlation between total cholesterol, HDL-C, and markers ofhaemolysis, haemoglobin F, and haemoglobin S levels. Conclusion: SCA is characterised by lower mean plasma TC and HDL than controls. However, no relationship was found between TC, HDL levels and SCD disease severity, markers of haemolysis, HbF and HbS levels. Further studies are required to ascertain the implications of plasma lipid levels in SCD

Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on blood donations and transfusions in Nigeria ­ A multi-facility study of 34 tertiary hospitals

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected blood supplies globally. Mobile blood drive campaigns halted, and voluntary blood donations reduced, challenging available blood supplies. Furthermore, fears of virus transmission led to deferrals of elective surgeries and non-urgent clinical procedures with noticeable declines in blood donations and transfusions. Aims: We aimed to assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number of blood donations and transfusions across the country by blood product type across various hospital departments. Materials and Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on blood services in 34 tertiary hospitals in Nigeria, comparing January to July 2019 (pre-COVID-19) to January to July 2020 (peri-COVID-19). Data were collected from the country's web-based software District Health Information System, Version 2 (DHIS2). Results: A 17.1% decline in numbers of blood donations was observed over the study period, especially in April 2020 (44.3%), a 21.7% decline in numbers of blood transfusions, especially in April 2020 (44.3%). The largest declines in transfusion were noted in surgery department for fresh frozen plasma (80.1%) [p = 0.012] and accident and emergency department transfusion of platelets (78.3%) [p = 0.005]. The least decline of statistical significance was observed in internal medicine transfusions of whole blood (19.6%) [p = 0.011]. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected the numbers of blood donations and transfusions in Nigeria. Strengthening blood services to provide various blood components and secure safe blood supplies during public health emergencies is therefore critical.