PATTERN OF BLOOD DISORDERS PRESENTING IN A NIGERIAN TERTIARY HOSPITAL

EGESIE O.J.¹, DAMULAK O.D.², JATAU E.D.³, AKOR E.A.⁴, EGESIE U.G.^5
1Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.
²Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.
³Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.
⁴Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.
⁵Department of Human Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Jos, Nigeria.

Received : 23-01-2014     Accepted : 24-02-2014     Published : 03-06-2014
Volume : 2     Issue : 1       Pages : 38 - 42
World Res J Crit Care 2.1 (2014):38-42

<i>Background:</i> The pattern of blood disorders from this centre was largely unknown. This is due to, among other factors, misclassification of these disorders connected with non-availability of diagnostic facilities, specialized personnel and insufficient public sensitization. Improvement in some of these limiting factors has spurred us to embark on this study. <i>Objective:</i> This study was embarked upon with the objective of identifying the pattern of blood disorders according to the type, age distribution and frequency of occurrence in patients seen within a decade in a tertiary hospital from the North-Central region of Nigeria. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> Records of all patients with blood disorder- related features referred, diagnosed and managed at the department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion of Jos University Teaching Hospital, between January 2003 and December 2012 were retrospectively examined. Only patients with complete information records were included. <i>Results:</i> A total of four hundred and six (406) patients’ records were analysed. Out of these, non-malignant blood disorders accounted for 63.1% (n = 256) while malignant blood disorders constituted 36.9% (n = 150). Males made up 49.6% and 60.7% of the non-malignant and malignant blood disorder group respectively. Females constituted 50.4% and 39.3% also of the non-malignant and malignant blood disorder group respectively. The male: female ratio was 1:1 for the non-malignant blood disorders and 1.5:1 for the malignant blood disorders. The most frequently encountered blood disorders were the non-malignant disorders of which sickle cell anaemia, megaloblastic anaemia, deep venous thrombosis and bone marrow failure (Aplastic anaemia) ranked the top most in that order. Similarly, the chronic leukaemias, Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and acute leukaemias in that order constituted the most frequently encountered malignant blood disorders. <i>Conclusion:</i> This study has identified the pattern of blood disorders from this centre. The non-malignant blood disorders were more frequently encountered in this centre. The most frequently occurring of these was sickle cell anaemia. There was an approximately equal gender occurrence and these disorders were well distributed in both adults and childhood. Malignant blood disorders showed a slight male predominance. The top ranking malignant blood disorders seen were chronic leukaemias, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and acute leukaemia. Whereas chronic leukaemias were the more frequently occurring malignant blood disorders in adults, Burkitt’s lymphoma was observed to occur more frequently in children in this centre. There is still an urgent need for improvement in provision of modern diagnostic facilities, specialised personnel training and public education and sensitization.