Work

Risk Factors for Attention and Behavioral Issues in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease

Year: 2015

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Children with sickle cell disease have an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, intellectual disability, and specific learning disabilities. Little research has been done to characterize the sickle cell disease-related characteristics associated with neurodevelopmental disorders in the sickle cell disease population. METHODS: This study was a retrospective chart review involving the outpatient records of 2 medical centers, Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins Hospital. Participants in the study included 59 children with sickle cell disease with a documented neurodevelopmental diagnosis, specifically attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, attention issues, behavioral issues, executive dysfunction, specific learning disabilities in math, reading, and reading comprehension, intellectual disabilities, developmental delay, fine motor disorders, language disorders, or autism spectrum disorders. RESULTS: Children with sickle cell disease type hemoglobin S-β thalassemia plus had significantly higher odds of attention issues than children with sickle cell disease type hemoglobin SS (OR = 17.0, 95% CI = 1.99-145.00, P < .02). Children with sickle cell disease and a reported history of asthma had significantly higher odds of behavioral issues than children with sickle cell disease without a history of asthma, after adjustment for gender and sickle cell disease type (exact OR = 19.53, 95% CI = 1.16-1369.72, P < .04). CONCLUSION: Children with sickle cell disease may have increased risk for certain neurodevelopmental diagnoses based on their disease characteristics and associated comorbidities. These preliminary study results should be explored in a larger database.

Source: Clinical Pediatrics

DOI: 10.1177/0009922815594356

Authors: Eboni I. Lance, Anne M. Comi, Michael V. Johnston, James F. Casella, Bruce K. Shapiro

Institutions: Kennedy Krieger Institute, Johns Hopkins University

Language: English

Topic: Hemoglobinopathies and Related Disorders

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development