[Body composition in Negro African children suffering from sickle cell disease. A mixed cross-sectional longitudinal study in Brazzaville, Congo].

This study evaluates the changes of body composition in homozygous children suffering from sickle cell disease and appreciates the interaction between some factors of severity of the disease. A mixed cross-sectional longitudinal study with control cases cohort was conducted in Brazzaville (Congo) among 91 children with sickle cell disease (45 boys and 46 girls) and 95 healthy children (48 boys and 47 girls), aged of 8-17 years old. Each group was initially divided into three subgroups of age: 8, 11, 14. These children were subsequently followed for 3 years. Each year, at the same period, body mass, percentage of body fat, lean body mass and body mass index were evaluated in the two groups and then compared. The effects of frequency of painful episodes, the number of severe anaemia crisis and haemoglobin F on different variables were also appreciated. The children with sickle cell disease had stunting, lower values of body mass (p < 0.001), percentage of fat (p < 0.01), lean body mass (p < 0.01), and body mass index (p <0.001) between 8 and 17 years of age. In addition, we observed a non linear association between body mass index and fat percentage, but this interaction was stronger in girls. Finally the yearly frequency of painful episodes, the number of severe anaemia crisis and haemoglobin F had most of the time an influence on body composition. Children with sickle cell disease had a decreased body composition influenced by the complications associated with the disease . These limitations are modulated by haemoglobin F but the body composition is affected by painful episodes and severe anaemic crisis. Therefore more care and attention are recommended for the children suffering from sickle cell disease in order to control this severe disease.