Spirometric Patterns and Pulmonary Function Abnormalities in Adult Patients with Sickle Cell Disease

Background: Sickle cell disease is a common genetic disorder that impairs hemoglobin, leading to organ damage, with the lungs being a major target. Pulmonary complications, particularly acute chest syndrome and chronic lung disease, significantly reduce lung function and are major causes of morbidity and mortality in affected patients. This study focuses on the characterization of lung function using spirometry (restrictive, obstructive, mixed patterns) in adult SCD patients.
Method: This is one-year cross-sectional case-control study at NAUTH, Nnewi, assessed lung function in participants using a MicroLab 3500 spirometer to measure FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC ratio. Procedures followed ATS/ERS guidelines, with predicted values calculated using GLI 2012 equations. Data were entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 21.0).
Result: The age range (AR) of the patients was 18-35 years with a mean of 24.20 ±2.53 years. The spirometry outcome showed that 32(64%) study subjects had abnormal ventilatory function while 18(36%) had normal ventilatory function. 32(64%) of the subjects had abnormal lung function while 18(36%) had normal lung function. One (9.09%) of study subjects with mild sickle cell disease severity score (SCDSC) had abnormal oxygen saturation (SpO2) while 13 (33.33%) of study subjects with mild SCDSC had normal SpO2 (p<0.003). Two (18.18%) of the study subjects with moderate SCDSC had abnormal SpO2 while 15 (38.46%) with moderate SCDSC had normal SpO2 (P=0.07).
Conclusion: Adult sickle cell disease patients frequently exhibit restrictive ventilatory defects, reduced spirometric parameters, and abnormal oxygen saturation, especially in severe cases. These abnormalities are likely due to recurrent acute chest syndrome, fibrosis, and progressive lung damage, underscoring the need for early detection, optimal management, and preventive interventions to preserve pulmonary function.

Sickle Cell Disease, Adult, Spirometry, Pulmonary

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