Screening For Pulmonary Hypertension In Pregnant Women With Sickle Cell Disease In Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease (SCD) has evolved from a condition predominantly fatal in childhood to a chronic illness impacting many adults, including women of reproductive age. For females with SCD, pregnancy represents one of the greatest health threats, exacerbating exist ing health challenges and introducing new risks. Despite advancements in healthcare, routine screening for existing complications like pulmonary hypertension (PH) remains inconsistent, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the prevalence of SCD is highest. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the feasibility of screening for PH in pregnant women with SCD in LMICs, with the goal of enhancing maternal health outcomes in this vulnerable population. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective multi-center feasibility study was conducted from September 2022 to February 2023 at teaching hospitals in Ghana and Nigeria. The study included pregnant women with SCD between 28 and 34 weeks of gestation. Screening for PH utilized a tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV) criterion (>2.5 m/s), with adherence to American Society of Echocardiography guidelines. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and proportions. RESULTS: Among 3091 pregnant women attending antenatal care, 88 had SCD (2.8%), and 55 were eligible for the study. We recruited 44 participants (mean age 28.9 years, SD 4.8), with 48% (21/44) SS genotype and 52% (23/44) SC genotype. Most participants (95.3%) had normal TRV (<2.5 m/s), with only one showing elevated TRV, successfully referred. Protocol adherence was 100%. Antenatal outcomes showed 95% echo uptake and 95.7% retention to term whilst postnatal echo follow-up was 43.5%. Notably, 27.1% (10/37) of deliveries required neonatal intensive care unit admission, and 18.2% were preterm. The sole participant with PH required intensive care unit care and experienced a preterm delivery with neonatal death on day 5. CONCLUSION: Screening and referral for PH in pregnant women with SCD in LMICs are feasible but face challenges in early diagnosis, healthcare personnel availability, and postnatal follow-up. Strategic planning is crucial to address these challenges and improve outcomes in this high-risk population.