Effectiveness of hydroxyurea (hydroxycarbamide) in a national sickle cell disease programme in Ghana.

ABSTRACT: Hydroxyurea (hydroxycarbamide; HU) has been shown to be a safe and effective drug for individuals living with sickle cell disease (SCD) in Africa. However, reports of large-scale use of HU outside of controlled trial settings are limited on the continent. Access to HU in Ghana has improved through a major public-private partnership aimed at enhancing holistic care for communities affected by SCD. We evaluated the effectiveness of this programme through the measurement of biomarkers identified from health records, changes in clinical outcomes and quality of life (QoL) reported through interviews with participants and/or caregivers. The haemoglobin (Hb) levels of participants enrolled in the programme between September 2019 and July 2023 (n = 1549) increased on average by 0.55 g/dL (p < 0.00

SUBMITTER: Dwomoh D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12624180 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature