Epidemiologic profile of hemoglobinopathies in Benin

Background: Sickle cell disease is the most common inherited blood disorder in the world with the birth of approximately 300,000 newborns screened each year. In 2009, the World Health Organization ranked the fight against sickle cell disease among the priorities for the Africa regions. The best way to prevent this incurable disease remains, on one hand systematic screening at birth, and on the other the proscription of risky union between heterozygous subjects.

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiological profile of sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies in Benin and determine more up-to-date prevalence rates of the disease within the population.

Methods: The hemoglobin profiles of 2910 study participants were determined by quantitative electrophoresis. Samples with abnormal hemoglobin results were subjected to a complete blood count.

Results: Our study population was balanced between males (1528) and females (1382) with a sex ratio of 1.1. The mean age ranged from eight years in the pediatric group to 26 years in adults. The hemoglobin electrophoresis profiles found were as follows: 59.7 % Hb AA (normal), 21.7 % Hb AS, 10.2 % Hb AC, 3.1 % Hb SS, 3.7 % Hb SC, and 1.6 % of the rare phenotypes (Hb AD, Hb AE, Hb AF, Hb A/β-thal, Hb SD, Hb SF, Hb CC and Hb C/β-thal). Participants with abnormal hemoglobin presented a normochromic normocytic anemia. A total of 356 (12 %) people knew their profile compared to 2554 (88 %) who did not.

Conclusion: The high prevalence of hemoglobinopathies found in this study highlights in importance of screening in the Benin population.