TITLE:
Risk Factors for Multiple Hospitalizations among Adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease Followed in a Reference Hospital, Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire)
AUTHORS:
Bi André Marius Gro, Komenan Amoro Mansou, Augustine Djivohessoun, Apie Isabelle Djoman, Evelyne Adjokoua Kouadio, Marie Evelyne Dainguy, Kouamé Cyprien Kouakou, Marie Hélène Aké-Assi, Prisca N’Gatta, Charlène Sorho, Corine Goli, Michèle Koné, Folquet Amorissani
KEYWORDS:
Sickle Cell Disease, Adolescents, Medical Follow-Up, Multiple Hospitalizations
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.15 No.6,
October
30,
2025
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Sickle cell disease, a chronic genetic disorder, exposes adolescents to frequent acute complications requiring repeated hospitalizations. The general objective of this study was to identify the risk factors for multiple hospitalizations in order to improve the prognosis of these adolescents. Methods: A retrospective analytical study was conducted in the pediatric outpatient department of Cocody University Hospital over a 24-month period from January 2023 to December 2024. All adolescents with sickle cell disease followed in the service were included. Sociodemographic and medical follow-up data were analyzed using Excel and SPSS.20 software. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare proportions, with a significance level set at 5%. Multiple hospitalization was defined as at least two admissions during the study period. Results: Among 134 children with sickle cell disease seen in pediatric outpatient consultation, 60 adolescents aged 10 to 15 years (mean age: 12.7 years) were included in the study. The sex ratio was 1.14, and 66.7% had a normal schooling level. Sickle cell disease was generally diagnosed around the age of 3 years and 9 months, mainly during bone pain crises (46.7%) or anemia (36.7%). The frequency of multiple hospitalizations was 23.3%. Three factors were significantly associated with repeated hospitalizations: low socioeconomic status (p = 0.001), poor quality of medical follow-up (p = 0.006), and poor treatment adherence (p = 0.001). No significant association was found with mothers’ education (p = 0.542), fathers’ education (p = 0.195), type of background therapy (p = 0.061), or vaccination coverage (p = 0.666). Conclusion: Repeated hospitalizations among adolescents with sickle cell disease are strongly influenced by avoidable factors linked to socioeconomic context and the quality of medical follow-up. Targeted interventions focusing on therapeutic education and family support are necessary to reduce morbidity associated with these hospitalizations.