Body mass index and other anthropometric variables in children with sickle cell anaemia

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to determine the anthropometric variables of children with sickle cell anaemia and comparing it with those with normal haemoglobin genotype. METHODS: A cross sectional study of anthropometric measurements was conducted over a period of six months. Children with sickle cell anaemia in steady state aged between 6-20 years were recruited. Nutritional assessment was done using anthropometrical variables. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences program (SPSS), version 20. RESULTS: The sickle cell patients comprised of 20 males and 20 females. There were an equal number of controls with an equal male to female ratio of 1:1. Forty eight percent (19) of the children with sickle cell anemia were underweight (< 5th %ile) and this is statistically significant. χ(2)=18.02 and p=0.000. When compared with subjects with normal haemoglobin genotype only five of them (13%) were underweight. χ(2)=10.286 and p=0.001. The controls weighed significantly more than the HbSS patients and also had significantly larger body surface compared to the HbSS population (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: BMI and other anthropometric variables among children with sickle cell anemia were low when compared with children with normal Haemoglobin genotype.