Health related quality of life among adults living with sickle cell disease in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited haemoglobinopathy which involves the inheritance of haemoglobin S with any other abnormal haemoglobin from both parents. Health related quality of life (HRQOL) provides the patient’s view of his/her own wellbeing. This study was aimed at determining health related quality of life in SCD patients attending Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Nigeria using the World Health organization quality of life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. Methods: This was a descriptive, cross sectional study in which an interviewer-administered WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was used to assess health related quality of life of 250 SCD participants and 50 HbAA controls. The questionnaire assessment was based on physical, psychological, social and environmental domains. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software version 23.0. P value was considered to be statistically significant at<0.05. Results: Respondents mean age was 31.67±12.07 years. SCD participants scored generally lower than controls, regarding domains on physical, psychological and social health, however scores were at par on environmental domain. Physical health score was better in females with SCD than males, while males with SCD had a better social relationship than females. Psychological health and environment scores were almost equal in both males and females with SCD. Conclusions: Health related quality of care is generally poor in SCD participants compared with HbAA controls, physical health is poorer in males with SCD than in females, however, psychological, social and environmental domains are similar in both genders.