Table 2.
Clinical characteristics of the study sample
| Variable | Adolescents (n = 15) | Adults (n = 25) | |
| Hemoglobinopathy - n (%) | |||
| SS | 9 (60) | 25 (100) | |
| SC | 3 (20) | 0 (0) | |
| S/β+ thalassemia | 3 (20) | 0 (0) | |
| No. of hospital admissions in the previous year - n (%) | |||
| 0 | 6 (40) | 7 (28) | |
| 1-5 | 9 (60) | 18 (72) | |
| No. of blood transfusions | |||
| Mean (median) | 2.6 (3.0) | 1.3 (1.0) | |
| Complications and/or health problems - n (%) | |||
| Anxiety | 5 (33.3) | 12 (48) | |
| Headache | 8 (53.3) | 22 (88) | |
| Depressive mood | 5 (33.3) | 9 (36) | |
| Pneumonia | 6 (40.0) | 7 (28) | |
| Pain | 14 (93.3) | 24 (96) | |
| Learning difficulties | 4 (26.7) | 15 (60) | |
| Sleep disorders | 2 (13.3) | 9 (36) | |
| Splenectomy | 3 (20.0) | 6 (24) | |
| Cholecystectomy | 2 (13.3) | 11 (44) | |
| Stroke | 1 (6.7) | 2 (8) | |
| Kidney infection | 2 (13.3) | 6 (24) | |
| Motor deficit | 2 (13.3) | 4 (16) | |
| Epileptic crisis | 2 (13.3) | 3 (12) | |
| taking hydroxyurea | 8 (53.3) | 6 (24) | |
| BDI score | |||
| Mean (median) | - | 12.1 (10) | |
| Dysthymia - n (%) | - | 6 (24) | |
| Depression - n (%) | - | 4 (16) | |