Last modified: 2012-02-09
Abstract
PHYSICAL IMPAIREMENT AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE
AKINPELU O.A*,ODUSANYA O.F**, AKINGBOLA T.S***
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL,IBADAN
Akinpelu OA: Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan.
Odusanya OF: Department of Physiotherapy, University College Hospital, Ibadan.
Akingbola TS: Department of Heamatology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan
Correspondence: Odusanya OF :e-mail address-oyinlolafo@yahoo.com.
Background
Quality of Life(QOL) reflects an individual’s perception of his/her current function and overall health. Despite the growing interest in the QOL in clinical research and practice, there seems to be no published information on the QOL of persons with sickle cell disease(SCD) in Nigeria and other parts of the world. The aim of this study was to determine physical impairment and QOL of adults and adolescents with SCD attending sickle cell clinics in the University College Hospital(UCH)Ibadan.
Methodology
The study design was ex-post-facto. Consecutive non-probability sampling technique was used to recruit subjects for the study. Physical impairment and QOL of 82 subjects with SCD was measured using Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life index sickle cell version III.Subjects real and apparent limb lentght discrepancies were measured. Data were analysed using mean and standard deviation as well as Mann-Whitney U-test, Kruskal Wallis test and Pearson Momment Correlation.
Results
The result showed that out of the maximum possible score of 30, the mean QOL of adults and adolescents were 24.23±3.18 and 23.36±3.17 respectively. Gender had no significant effect(P<0.05) on any of the subscales of QOL.Sickle cell disease subjects with physical impairments scored significantly lower(P<0.05) on health/functioning subscale of QOL.
Conclusion
In conclusion, QOL of subjects with SCD can be said to be generally above average, which is an indication SCD does not drastically affect QOL of subjects with SCD. It was also observed that physical impairments affected the QOL of subjects