Sickle cell disease: the case for coordinated information

Service support to families caring for a child with a sickle cell disorder or thalassaemia: the experience of health professionals, service managers and health commissioners

Until recently, health care policy has largely ignored sickle cell disorders (SCDs) and thalassaemia. This is despite the difficulties faced by service users and their families: the consequences of which range from denial of informed choice to avoidable suffering and stress. This article, by presenting material from a qualitative evaluation of service support to families caring for a child with a sickle cell disorder or thalassaemia, examines these problems in detail. We specifically focus on the accounts of health professionals, their managers and health commissioners, to explore treatment and support for children with a haemoglobinopathy. We conclude that ill-coordinated and poorly resourced haemoglobinopathy services represent major problems for users and their families. However, we also highlight examples of good practice; demonstrating that improvements can be made with clear planning, employment of appropriate and well-trained staff, good inter-agency working and user involvement.

A retrospective observational study of pre-operative sickle cell screening

The aim of this study was to determine the ethnic mix of those patients being pre-operatively screened for sickle cell disease in a London teaching hospital and to determine the rate of carriage of sickle haemoglobin amongst those tested. We retrospectively studied 1879 patients undergoing surgery over a 2-month period. Two hundred and thirteen (11%) were screened for sickle cell disease and of these, 12 (5%) tested positive for sickle cell trait (HbAS). There were no patients homozygous for sickle cell disease (HbSS) or with haemoglobin SC disease (HbSC). Screening rates varied widely in different ethnic groups from 0% of the Chinese population to 85.2% of the Afro-Caribbean population. We conclude that at present there is no coherent pre-operative screening policy for sickle cell disease in our institution. Sickle cell disease poses unique anaesthetic risks and with a rapidly expanding 'mixed race' population high-risk patients are difficult to identify phenotypically. We propose a universal screening policy be implemented in high-risk areas.

Experiences of hospital care and treatment-seeking behavior for pain from sickle cell disease: qualitative study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate how sociocultural factors influence the management of pain from sickle cell disease by comparing the experiences of those who usually manage their pain at home with the experiences of those who are more frequently admitted to hospital for management of their pain.

DESIGN

Qualitative analysis of semistructured individual interviews and focus group discussions.

PARTICIPANTS

57 participants with genotype SS or S/beta-thal (44 participants) or SC (9 participants); the status of 4 participants was unknown. 40 participants took part in focus groups, 6 took part in both focus groups and interviews, and 9 were interviewed only. Participants were allocated to focus groups according to ethnic origin, sex, and the number of times that they had been admitted to the hospital for the management of painful crises during the previous year.

RESULTS

The relation between patients with sickle cell disease and hospital services is one of several major, nonclinical dimensions that shape experiences of pain management and behavior for seeking health care. Participants' experiences of hospital care show a range of interrelated themes that are common to most participants across variables of sex, ethnicity, and which hospital was attended. Themes identified included the mistrust of patients with sickle cell disease, stigmatization, excessive control (including both overtreatment and undertreatment of pain) and neglect. Individuals responded to the challenge of negotiating care with various strategies. Patients with sickle cell disease who are frequently admitted to hospital may try to develop long-term relationships with their caregivers, become passive or aggressive in their interactions with health professionals, or regularly attend different hospitals. Those who usually manage their pain at home expressed a strong sense of responsibility for the management of their pain and advocated self-education, assertiveness, and resistance as strategies toward hospital services.

CONCLUSIONS

The organization and delivery of management for the pain of a sickle cell crisis discourages self-reliance and encourages hospital dependence. Models of care should recognize the chronic nature of sickle cell disorders and give priority to patients' involvement in their care.

Experiences of hospital care and treatment seeking for pain from sickle cell disease: qualitative study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate how sociocultural factors influence management of pain from sickle cell disease by comparing the experiences of those who usually manage their pain at home with those who are more frequently admitted to hospital for management of their pain.

DESIGN

Qualitative analysis of semistructured individual interviews and focus group discussions.

PARTICIPANTS

57 participants with genotype SS or S/beta-thal (44 subjects) or SC (9) (4 were unknown). 40 participants took part in focus groups, six took part in both focus groups and interviews, and nine were interviewed only. Participants were allocated to focus groups according to number of hospital admissions for painful crisis management during the previous year, ethnic origin, and sex.

RESULTS

The relation between patients with sickle cell disease and hospital services is one of several major non-clinical dimensions shaping experiences of pain management and behaviour for seeking health care. Experiences of hospital care show a range of interrelated themes, which are common to most participants across variables of sex, ethnicity, and hospital attended: mistrust of patients with sickle cell disease; stigmatisation; excessive control (including both over- and undertreatment of pain); and neglect. Individuals respond to the challenge of negotiating care with various strategies. Patients with sickle cell disease who are frequently admitted to hospital may try to develop long term relationships with their carers, may become passive or aggressive in their interactions with health professionals, or may regularly attend different hospitals. Those individuals who usually manage their pain at home express a strong sense of self responsibility for their management of pain and advocate self education, assertiveness, and resistance as strategies towards hospital services.

CONCLUSIONS

The current organisation and delivery of management of pain for sickle cell crisis discourage self reliance and encourage hospital dependence. Models of care should recognise the chronic nature of sickle cell disorders and prioritise patients' involvement in their care.

Mapping the prevalence of sickle cell and beta thalassaemia in England: estimating and validating ethnic-specific rates

A range of estimates for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia have been derived for the different ethnic groups living in the U.K., reflecting uncertainty over the true population value in certain countries and the heterogeneity within and between countries of origin comprising the same ethnic group. These were validated against six community screening programmes, with the estimated range correctly predicting the number of affected births observed by the programmes. In England approximately 3000 affected babies (0.47%) carry sickle cell trait and 2800 (0.44%) carry beta thalassaemia trait annually: with approximately 178 (0.28 per 1000 conceptions) affected by sickle cell disease (SCD) and 43 (0.07 per 1000) by beta thalassaemia major/intermedia. Allowing for termination, about 140-175 (0.22-0.28 per 1000) affected infants are born annually with SCD and from 10 to 25 (0.02-0.04 per 1000) with beta thalassaemia major/intermedia. These are the first evidence-based rates for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia for use in the U.K., and should underpin the future planning of services. The long-term solution to monitoring changes in the rates of trait and disease in the population is to introduce a standardized instrument for collecting ethnicity for all community screening programmes.

Salmonella osteomyelitis in sickle cell disease children in the east end of London

Five cases of Salmonella osteomyelitis are presented in children with sickle cell disease living in the East End of London. Four of these had involvement of the long bones and one (an infant) presented with hand-foot syndrome. Four required surgical drainage of pus and all required lengthy therapy with antibiotics. Factors contributing to the increased susceptibility of these patients to invasive disease with Salmonella sp. are discussed as are the clinical features, surgical and antibiotic management and possible preventative measures.

Psychiatric complications of homozygous sickle cell disease among young adults in the Jamaican Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of psychiatric disorder in young adults with homzygous sickle cell (SS) disease and in controls with normal haemoglobin, and to examine factors associated with psychiatric disorder.

METHOD

The study design was cross-sectional. Subjects were aged 18-20 years: 63 with SS disease and 89 controls. The Psychiatric Assessment Schedule was used to determine psychiatric disorder at index of Definition level 5.

RESULTS

Psychiatric disorder was identified in 18 (29%) SS disease patients and in 22 (25%) controls. In SS patients, psychiatric disorder was not related to illness severity but was associated with leaving school early, difficulties in social adjustment, impaired cognitive function and having previous psychiatric difficulties. Male SS patients with psychiatric disorder all had low body mass index (BMI < 17.60). In controls, psychiatric disorder was associated with female gender, unemployment and difficulties in social adjustment.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of psychiatric disorder was similar in patients and controls, although associated factors tended to be different. The association with low BMI in SS men merits further study.

Pregnancy in sickle cell disease in the UK: results of a multicentre survey of the effect of prophylactic blood transfusion on maternal and fetal outcome

OBJECTIVE

To determine the outcome of pregnancies complicated by sickle cell disease in the UK during 1991-1993 and the effect of prophylactic blood transfusion programmes on maternal and fetal outcome.

DESIGN

A multicentre study.

SUBJECTS

Eighty-one pregnancies complicated by sickle cell disease and 100 pregnancies from women of black African descent without haemoglobinopathies to act as a comparative group. Pregnancies complicated by sickle cell disease were divided by the type of haemoglobinopathy and also by transfusion regimen.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Antenatal and postnatal complications of sickle cell disease, proteinuric hypertension, preterm delivery, emergency delivery by caesarean section, fetal distress, birthweight, perinatal and maternal mortality.

RESULTS

There were two maternal deaths in the 81 pregnancies and the perinatal mortality rate was 60/1000. Antenatal sickling complications occurred in 46.2% of pregnancies and postnatal sickling complications occurred in 7.7% of pregnancies. Pregnancies complicated by sickle cell disease were significantly more likely to be associated with anaemia, preterm delivery, proteinuric hypertension, birthweight below the 10th centile and caesarean section as an emergency procedure than the comparative group. Severe sickling complications occurred more commonly in the third trimester and there was some evidence that a prophylactic transfusion programme reduced the risk of this. Prophylactic transfusion did not improve obstetric outcome when compared with those pregnancies that were untransfused.

CONCLUSIONS

Sickle cell disease remains a severe complicating factor to pregnancy and perinatal mortality and maternal mortality rates in the UK have increased since last reported. A policy of exchange transfusing all women with homozygous sickle cell disease (HbSS) from 28 weeks gestation is recommended to reduce the risk of maternal complications in the third trimester and puerperium. There remains a role for earlier prophylactic blood transfusion programmes in women with poor obstetric and haematological histories.

Neurological 'soft' signs may identify children with sickle cell disease who are at risk for stroke

Stroke is one of the most frequent complications of sickle cell disease (HbSS), occurring in 7-17% of children. Recent studies recognized more minor lesions on MRI, not associated with clinical signs on standard neurological examination, which however have been found to be a risk factor for developing stroke later. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether minor lesions observed on imaging could be associated with 'soft' neurological signs not detectable on conventional neurological examination. Fourteen children with HbSS were assessed with MRI, standard neurological examination and evaluation of 'soft' signs (Zurich Neuromotor Test) and motor function (Movement ABC). Eight of the 14 children scanned showed lesions on MRI but only 3 of the full cohort were abnormal on standard neurological examination. However, all of the eight children with MRI lesions also showed abnormal signs on at least one of the two tests (Zurich and Movement ABC). All the children with normal MRI were normal on all the tests performed. The sensitivity of Zurich Neuromotor Test and Movement ABC in the group of children with MRI lesions is 0.88 and 0.75, respectively, and increases to 1 when the two tests are used together. The specificity of both tests is 1 even when the tests are used separately.

CONCLUSION

Although the number of cases is small, 'soft' signs may reliably identify the presence of even minor MRI lesions, allow the evaluation of the global incidence of major and minor neurological signs and may also help to identify the population at risk for developing strokes. This population could then be closely monitored and benefit from early intervention.

Variation in coverage by ethnic group of neonatal (Guthrie) screening programme in south London

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether coverage of the neonatal (Guthrie) screening programme in Britain is different for groups at highest risk of sickle cell disease and to identify possible reasons for incomplete coverage.

DESIGN

Descriptive study of coverage of screening programme and its variation by mobility, district of residence, and ethnic group.

SUBJECTS

1727 infants born between 1 October and 31 December 1991.

SETTING

Former West Lambeth and Camberwell District Health Authorities, London.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Proportion of infants with an identifiable screening test result.

RESULTS

Screening covered 1663/1727 (96.3%) infants overall (745/786 (94.8%) in West Lambeth; 918/941 (97.6%) in Camberwell). The relative odds ratio of an African infant not having been tested compared with a white infant was 3.05 (95% confidence interval 1.30 to 7.14) (2.08 (0.86 to 5.01) after adjustment for mobility and district of residence). For infants whose families moved into the districts after the birth compared with those born and resident in the districts the relative odds ratio of having been tested was 10.16 (4.85 to 21.29). The odds ratio of locally delivered infants in West Lambeth not having been tested compared with those in Camberwell was 2.12 (1.08 to 4.16) after adjustment for ethnic group.

CONCLUSION

Coverage of the screening programme is incomplete and poorer in infants of African ethnic group than in white infants. Poorer coverage is also associated with mobility of the family around the time of birth. The findings have implications for using the neonatal programme for testing for sickle cell disease and other disorders. Arrangements for monitoring the existing screening programme are inadequate and an improved system should be established, similar to the scheme that monitors the immunisation programme.