Lower than expected elevated tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity in adults with sickle cell disease in Nigeria

Background: Cardiopulmonary disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in persons with sickle cell disease (SCD). Tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity (TRJV) and predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1%) predicted are independently associated with death in SCD. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of elevated TRJV and the association, if any, between TRJV and FEV1% predicted among persons with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) in Nigeria. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, we enrolled 100 adult Nigerians (≥15 y) with SCA. We screened participants using Doppler echocardiogram to determine their TRJV and assessed their lung function with spirometry. Results: The prevalence of elevated TRJV was 6%, with 74% of participants having low FEV1% predicted (<70%). TRJV was negatively correlated with FEV1%, but this finding was not statistically significant (Spearman's ρ=-0.0263, p=0.8058). Conclusions: We found a low prevalence of elevated TRJV and a trend in association between TRJV and FEV1% predicted in Nigerian adults with SCA. Our findings underscore the need to explore further the relationship between SCD and cardiopulmonary disease in adults.