Micronutrient levels and haemato-biochemical status of patients with sickle cell anaemia at a tertiary hospital in Abakaliki, south-eastern Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Introduction: nutritional status is an under-studied environmental factor that can impact the phenotypic manifestations of patients with Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA). This study aimed to define hemato-biochemical parameters and micronutrient status in patients with SCA. Methods: this was a cross-sectional study of patients with SCA and HBAA controls at a tertiary health facility in Abakaliki, from 02 December 2020 to 31 March 2021. Plasma micronutrient levels, haemato-biochemical parameters were analyzed and anthropometric measurements obtained from all participants. Results: sixty participants with SCA had 58.3% females (mean age of 24.77±7.39 years) while controls had 50% females (mean age of 26.23 ± 8.44 years). The SCA group had significantly lowered calcium (2.733 ± 1.593 vs 1.846 ± 1.123 mmol/l; p=0.009) and magnesium (19.38 ± 6.37 vs 9.65 ± 1.38 mg/dl; p= < 0.001) levels but higher plasma iron (1.70 ± 0.89 vs 1.06 ± 0.53; p=0.001). Zinc and Copper did not reveal significant differences between the two groups. Chloride ion levels was significantly lower in the SCA patients (107.50 ± 17.42 vs 100.19 ± 12.92; p=0.026) while Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, total White Blood Cell WBC and platelets (PLT) count were higher compared with the HBAA group (255.72 ± 124.52 vs 134.56 ± 39.67; p= <0.001, 46.86 ± 25.03 vs 25.63 ± 18.80; p = 0.001, 13.21± 6.57 vs 6.10 ± 1.35; p= < 0.001 and 369.25 ± 138.11 vs 209.36 ± 47.85; p= <0.001). Conclusion: Copper and zinc deficiency was not present in our population of SCA patients but, they had lower plasma calcium and magnesium levels and elevated levels of blilirubin, ALP, WBC and platelets PLT counts. These parameters can be explored in designing better management for patients with SCA.