Physical activity, vaso‐occlusive crises and pain in patients with sickle cell anaemia in Senegal
Acute physical exercise may trigger vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) in patients with sickle cell anaemia (SCA), creating uncertainty around physical activity (PA) recommendations. This cross-sectional study examined the relationships between PA, VOC and steady-state pain in 104 Senegalese male patients with SCA. PA was objectively measured over 5 weeks, recording daily steps and time spent in different PA intensities (expressed in metabolic equivalent of task, MET). VOC occurrence was tracked, and steady-state days excluded VOC days plus 2 days before and after. Pain frequency and intensity on steady-state days were recorded via diaries, and blood viscosity was measured. Ninety-eight patients (29 ± 8 years old) completed the study, averaging 9611 ± 4040 steps/day, with 293 ± 108, 64 ± 69 and 28 ± 32 min in ≥1.5, ≥3.0, and ≥6.0 MET PA respectively. Median daily step count and PA duration were not associated with VOC occurrence. However, higher step counts and more time in ≥1.5 and ≥6.0 MET PA correlated with lower pain frequency and intensity (on steady-state days) and lower blood viscosity. These findings suggest that PA may benefit patients with SCA, but further research is needed to establish guidelines.
Authors
- Mame Saloum Coly
- Macoura Gadji (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0252-3772)
- Motohiko Miyachi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1146-0905)
- Julien Tripette (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5669-5337)
- Arame Mbengue
- Saliou Diop (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2354-3839)
- Tsukasa Yoshida (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2304-6872)
- Élie Nader (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6054-2456)
- Blaise Félix Faye (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7066-7984)
- Philippe Connes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9232-0268)
- Mor Diaw (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0525-6235)
- Brigitte Ranque (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8549-2275)
- Sarah Skinner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1089-723X)
- Keyne Charlot (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4366-4013)
- Matthieu Gallou‐Guyot (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2616-4850)
- A Samb (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0229-1529)
Institutions
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (FR)
- Waseda University (JP)
- Inserm (FR)
- Université Paris Cité (FR)
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JP)
- Ochanomizu University (JP)
- Université Paris-Saclay (FR)
- National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition (JP)
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montpellier (FR)
- Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris (FR)
- Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou (FR)
- Hôpital Européen (FR)
- Centre Hospitalier National Universitaire de Fann (SN)
- Université de Thiès (SN)
- Université d'Évry Val-d'Essonne (FR)
- Cheikh Anta Diop University (SN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- British Journal of Haematology
- Published
- 2025-05-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.20150
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Hemoglobinopathies and Related Disorders
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.63
Funders
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science