DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS AND ABO BLOOD GROUP GENOTYPES DISTRIBUTION AMONG SICKLE CELL ANEMIA PATIENTS IN BIRNIN KEBBI, NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Highlights Sickle cell anemia affects both males and females in Birnin Kebbi and is predominant among children between 1 to 10 years of age. It is also more prevalent but less severe among individuals with O- and A+ ABO blood groups in the city.   Abstract Background: Demographic information and ABO blood group genotypes have been shown by studies to be useful tools in the management of sickle cell anemia. Regrettably, there is a dearth of literature on this information in Birnin Kebbi, northwestern Nigeria. Objective: This study determined demographic characteristics, ABO blood group genotypes, and sickle cell genotypes of sickle cell anemia patients in Birnin Kebbi. Material and Method: A structured checklist was used to collect data from the medical records of 99 patients who attended the Federal Medical Center in the city between November 2022 to November 2023. Result: The results revealed that most of the patients fell within the 1 to 10 years age group, comprising 44 individuals (44.4%), and the 11 to 20 years age group, comprising 33 individuals (33.3%). Of the patients, 48 (48.5%) were males, while 51 (51.5%) were females. Patients with ABO blood genotype O- (33.3%) and A+ (18.0%) were the most prevalent and least severely affected, while blood groups O+ (3%) and AB- (6%) were the least prevalent and most severely affected. Two variants of sickle cells (HbSS and HbSC) were identified, with HbSS (92.9%) being the most prevalent. Conclusion: Based on these findings, efforts should be made to ensure an ample blood supply with groups O-, A, and AB+ in blood banks. Moreover, studies have shown ABO blood groups to influence responses to diets, so precision medicine tailored to individual patients' blood groups is recommended. Individuals with O+ and AB- -blood groups should be given special attention, as they exhibit the severe form of the disease.