Influence of Nutrition on Sickle Cell Crisis

Abstract

<p>Influence of Nutrition on Sickle Cell Crisis. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is often characterized by delayed development, poor growth, acute painful episodes, and reduced physical activity when compared with non-sickle cell anemia. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), in the United States 90,000-100,000 people are affected by the disease. It accounts for lout of every 500 birth. The estimated hospital stay cost for SCD patients in 2004 was $488 million, (Center for Disease Control [CDCL 2010). Malnutrition in SCD is fairly common and studies have shown growth delays in symptomatic SCD patients (Embury, Hebbel, Mohanders, & Stienberg, 1994). Sub-optimal nutritional status of SCD patients has been suggested to be responsible for their pattern of growth deficit (Kawchak, Schall, Zemel, OheneFrempong, & Stallings, 2007). The aim of this study is to explore the influence of a special diet regimen in reducing incidence of painful crises and hospitalization among SCD patients. A quantitative experimental design will be employed. The nutritional conceptual framework developed by UNICEF will guide the study. The setting will be a mid-size level III hospital in the southwestern part of the Midwest. On the average over 900 sickle cell patients are cared for by the hospital annually. The target population is children ages 13-19 diagnosed with SCD. A convenience sample of 120 patients meeting the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group who will receive the specially formulated diet regimen or the control group who will receive standard care. Demographic questionnaires will be completed by both groups and the number of hospitalization or hospital visit by the participants due to painful crisis will be recorded for up to ten months from the time the study was started. Descriptive statistics will be used to describe participants, Pearson r to test correlation and ttest for differences between intervention and control groups.</p><p>This presentation occurred at the Wright State University Campus-Wide Celebration of Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities on April 8, 2011</p>