Risk Factors associated with Pain Episodes among Sickle Cell Patients that visited Mulago National Referral Hospital-Uganda

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Background:</bold> Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic hematologic disease associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The study aims to investigate the suggested socio-economic and clinical factors and their contribution to the frequency of pain episodes among sickle cell patients in Uganda. <bold>Method:</bold> We used pre-existing secondary data from sickle cell clinic records at Mulago referral hospital collected in 2019, with a sample of 2532 sickle cell patients. In support of the outcome being count data, the Negative Binomial Regression model was utilized to estimate how the independent factors affected the frequency of pain episodes among the patients. <bold>Results:</bold> The frequency of pain episodes was different among age groups as young adults (16/14) experienced the highest number of pain episodes on average (IRR=1.39; 95% CI=1.277-1.522; p=0.000) compared to young children. While increased temperature (fever) increased the frequency of pain episodes by 24% (IRR=1.243; 95% CI=1.147-1.348; p=0.000), infection by 27% (IRR=1.27; 95% CI=1.191-1.354; p&lt;0.000), other chronic diseases by 11% (IRR=1.11; 95% CI=1.038-1.188; p&lt;0.002), malaria by 38% (IRR=1.38; 95% CI=1.036-1.836; p&lt;0.027), and hydroxyurea however decreased the frequency of pain episodes by 34% (IRR=0.662; 95% CI=0.584-0.750; p&lt;0.000). Nevertheless, there was no evidence that being a male or female would influence the frequency of pain episodes among sickle cell patients. <bold>Conclusions:</bold> These findings are expected to add to the body of knowledge in the health sector, assist in advocacy programs, inform policy, and aid in tailored interventions.