DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS AND ABO BLOOD GROUP GENOTYPES DISTRIBUTION AMONG SICKLE CELL ANEMIA PATIENTS IN BIRNIN KEBBI, NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA

• Published in: Majalah Biomorfologi Vol. 34; no. 2; pp. 83 - 92
• Main Authors: Tajudeen Olanrewaju Yahaya, Asiya Koko Attahiru, Abdulgafar Bala Ibrahim, Mutiyat Kehinde Adewale, Adamu Zainab Fari, Abdullahi Saadatu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga 01-07-2024
• Subjects: abo blood group genotypes; blood group o; demographic information; human & health; sickle cell anemia
• ISSN: 0215-8833; 2716-0920
• DOI: 10.20473/mbiom.v34i2.2024.83-92

Highlights Sickle cell anemia affects both males and females in Birnin Kebbi and is predominant among children between 1 to 10 years of age. It is also more prevalent but less severe among individuals with O- and A+ ABO blood groups in the city.   Abstract Background: Demographic information and ABO blood group genotypes have been shown by studies to be useful tools in the management of sickle cell anemia. Regrettably, there is a dearth of literature on this information in Birnin Kebbi, northwestern Nigeria. Objective: This study determined demographic characteristics, ABO blood group genotypes, and sickle cell genotypes of sickle cell anemia patients in Birnin Kebbi. Material and Method: A structured checklist was used to collect data from the medical records of 99 patients who attended the Federal Medical Center in the city between November 2022 to November 2023. Result: The results revealed that most of the patients fell within the 1 to 10 years age group, comprising 44 individuals (44.4%), and the 11 to 20 years age group, comprising 33 individuals (33.3%). Of the patients, 48 (48.5%) were males, while 51 (51.5%) were females. Patients with ABO blood genotype O- (33.3%) and A+ (18.0%) were the most prevalent and least severely affected, while blood groups O+ (3%) and AB- (6%) were the least prevalent and most severely affected. Two variants of sickle cells (HbSS and HbSC) were identified, with HbSS (92.9%) being the most prevalent. Conclusion: Based on these findings, efforts should be made to ensure an ample blood supply with groups O-, A, and AB+ in blood banks. Moreover, studies have shown ABO blood groups to influence responses to diets, so precision medicine tailored to individual patients' blood groups is recommended. Individuals with O+ and AB- -blood groups should be given special attention, as they exhibit the severe form of the disease.