LAST year’s sickle cell related deaths were the lowest in six years, with campaigners crediting the drop in fatalities to improved health care services.
Twenty-eight deaths caused by complications were registered among sickle cell anaemia patients throughout last year – compared with 31 in 2015, 46 in 2014, 32 in 2013, 45 in 2012, 50 in 2011 and 35 in 2010.
Two of the deaths were reported last month while the maximum number of cases happened in July, according to the Bahrain Society for Sickle Cell Anaemia Patient Care.
Society president Zakreya Al Kadhem said the establishment of the Hereditary Blood Disorder Centre in 2014 and an increase in awareness have resulted in improved life expectancy of sickle cell patients in Bahrain.
“The highest number of deaths we registered was in 2011 when 50 patients died because of sickle cell complications,” he told the GDN.
“But when we look at the figures there has been a dramatic reduction in fatalities among sickle cell patients mainly because of improvement in health care services and awareness among the society.
“The treatment process has been streamlined with a dedicated hereditary centre to treat sickle cell patients because of which life expectancy has improved which according to our estimates is about 55 years.
“It did not happen overnight and was a gradual process because of which there was a reduction in fatalities last year.
“We expect there will be a further reduction in number of deaths because of this disease in 2017.”
Four in every 100 newborns in Bahrain suffered from the disease in 2006, which changed to four in 1,000 newborns in 2010.
“By 2014, we had six in every 10,000 births suffering from sickle cell which shows the dramatic drop in the number of newborns affected by the disease,” said Mr Al Kadhem.
“Pre-marital screening and awareness among the Bahraini community has played a major role in preventing couples from getting married.
“No one used to listen to us when we explained to a couple about the complications they could face or even their baby because they were in love.
“They would fly off to Qatar, the UK or other countries to get married and return.”
However, Mr Al Kadhem said there were still many challenges to be addressed, including having the right team of experts to help patients, and availability of medical equipment and drugs.
“We have the best physicians and treatment in Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) compared with even private hospitals, but in delivering those health services there are some missing links that need to be addressed,” he added.
Meanwhile, SMC deputy chief of medical staff Dr Raja’a Al Yousef said her team was also in the process of releasing figures about sickle cell patients in the country, compiled through multiple sources.
She said health services for such patients have improved significantly with the establishment of the BD4.7 million Hereditary Blood Disorder Centre, which helps more than 15,000 patients, including around 5,000 sickle cell anaemia sufferers.
“There are multiple speciality clinics with specialised doctors at this centre to help patients suffering from sickle cell and every patient has their own package of treatment customised according to their condition,” she said.
“In addition to this the waiting time has been reduced from an hour to 10 minutes and we are seeing long-term improvement in reduced numbers of morbidity and mortality.”
Genetic
Sickle cell disease is one of the most prevalent genetic disorders in Bahrain.
Characterised by abnormal blood cells that have a tendency to take on a rigid, sickle-like shape, the disease leaves sufferers prone to a number of acute and chronic health problems such as infection, attacks of severe pain known as “sickle-cell crisis” and stroke.
sandy@gdn.com.bh