Results
Patient characteristics: There were 66 males and 50 females.
Most of the patients were HbSS (96.5%), 3 were
HbSβ0thal (2.6%) and 1HbSC (0.9%). The median age at
initiation of HU was 9.5 years. Average duration of HU therapy was 18
months (range 12 months- 33months) with an average HU dose of 18.5
mg/kg/day (range of 10 mg-32mg/kg/day). Only 1 patient with persistent
pain received HU dose at 32 mg/kg/day and 3 patients with stroke
received 25 mg/kg/day.
Patient retention: 116 patients were offered HU from January
2017 to September 2019. Eighteen patients (15.6%) dropped out within 12
months for: lack of funds (50%), family issues (22%), drug not working
(16.7%), bleeding gums (5.6%), splenic sequestration (5.6%).
Seventeen other patients (14.7%) stopped because of family logistics
and lack of funds but resumed therapy after counselling. Three patients
(2.6%) relocated to other states and another three had missing baseline
data. Only patients who had baseline laboratory data and who had used
hydroxyurea for at least 6 months were used for statistical analysis (N=
89). Patients who had missing data at various stages of the analysis
were analyzed for their available data. Questionnaire was administered
to 114 families (66 Males, 48 Females) including those who stopped
hydroxyurea. Two patients who relocated could not be reached. Response
rate was 100%.