Major Sickle Cell Disease in Pediatrics from 2023 to 2024: Study of Morbidity and Prognostic Factors at Bouaké University Hospital

Introduction: Since 2017, a specialized care unit for children with sickle cell disease has been established at the Bouaké University Hospital (CHU). In this unit, children with major sickle cell disease are followed up. The objective of the study was to assess the morbidity associated with this condition to improve clinical practices and outcomes. Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional analytical study conducted from April 2023 to April 2024 in the pediatric sickle cell care unit of Bouaké University Hospital. All children with major sickle cell disease who had been followed for more than 12 months and had been hospitalized at least once in the unit were included. The variables studied were sociodemographic, diagnostic, therapeutic, and related to disease progression. Variable comparisons were performed at a significance level of p ≤ 5%. Results: Of the 272 children followed for sickle cell disease, 81 had a major form (30%), among whom 45 were included in the study (16.5%). There were 25 boys and 20 girls. Seventy-one percent were over 5 years old. Their phenotypes were SFA2 (48.9%), SC (28.9%), or SS (22.2%). Hydroxyurea therapy was administered in 24.4% of cases. Treatment adherence was observed in 64.4%. Seventy-three point three percent had been hospitalized at least twice. The causes of hospitalisation were infection (84.4%), severe anemia (57.8%), and acute chest syndrome (2.2%). Hydroxyurea use was significantly associated with a lower number of hospitalisations (p = 0.0034). Conclusion: Treatment with hydroxyurea and good therapeutic adherence may help reduce the number of hospitalisations and complications.