Jornal de Hematologia e Doenças Tromboembólicas
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Abstrato

Factors Associated with Hospitalisations and 30-Day Readmissions among Patients with Sickle Cell Anemia in Two Hospitals in Cameroon

Tchouda Sani Leticia Armelle¹*, Mah Evelyn Mungyeh², Fokam Yolande¹, Ngouadjeu Dongho Tsakeu³

Background: Admissions are major events in the life journey of sicklers as it has the potential to jeopardise quality of life.

Method: We carried out a cross-sectional study over a 04 months period at the Mother and Child Center of the Chantal Biya Foundation (MCC-CBF) and Douala General Hospital (DGH). We assessed socio-demographic characteristics of both children and their caregivers, clinical factors, duration of hospital stay, respect of hospital appointments and the outcome hospital admissions and 30-day readmissions in the previous year. The factors associated with admissions and readmissions were determined using the chi square test or fichers exact test were appropriate. The threshold of significance was p<0.05.

Results: Overall, 200 children were included in the study. Most were females n=106 (53%). A majority were admitted n=117 (58.5%) and few n=12 (10.3%) were readmitted. A late age at diagnosis (OR=0.40, 95% CI: 0.21-0.76, P=0.005), being polytransfused (OR=2.70, 95% CI: 1.31-5.54; P=0.007) and respect of hospital appointments (OR=2.20, 95% CI: 1.10-4.40; P=0.027) were significantly associated with admissions. Whereas adolescence (OR=6.36, 95% CI: 1.63-27.89; P=0.014) and a long duration of hospital stay (OR=7.69, 95% CI: 1.62-36.69; P=0.010) were significantly associated with readmissions.

Conclusion: There are potentially modifiable and non-modifiable factors associated with admissions and readmissions. Special attention need to be paid on the care of sicklers who are polytransfused and those in the adolescent period.