INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 03 Program Schedule 02/15/2024 09:30 am - 10:40 am Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60) Poster Session 03: Neurotrauma \| Neurovascular Final Abstract #31 The Relationship Between Sickle Cell Disease Biomarkers, Fatigue, and Cognitive Functioning Hannes Heppner, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, United States Cindy Karlson, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, United States Donna Platt, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, United States Category: Medical/Neurological Disorders/Other (Child) Keyword 1: sickle cell disease Keyword 2: fatigue Keyword 3: cognitive functioning Objective: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an autosomal recessive blood disease, impacting affected individuals negatively through abnormal and sickle-shaped hemoglobin molecules. Prior research has robustly identified chronic fatigue and sleep difficulties as common features of SCD. Further, compared with healthy controls, youth with SCD show reduced cognitive functioning. However, little research to date has investigated the relationship between disease biomarkers (hemoglobin, hematocrit, absolute reticulocyte count, platelet level), fatigue, sleep duration, and cognitive functioning in youth with SCD. We hypothesized that better SCD blood biomarkers would be associated with less fatigue, longer sleep duration, and better cognitive functioning. Participants and Methods: Cross-sectional chart review was conducted for a preliminary sample of 21 Black/African American youth with SCD (M_age = 12.64, SD = 3.22, 59.1% females). Hemoglobin, hematocrit, absolute reticulocyte count, platelet level were collected as part of routine medical care via finger stick. Demographic information, youth and parent-reported sleep, youth-reported fatigue, and youth and parent-reported cognitive functioning data were collected via the PROMIS v1.0 Pediatric profile and the Family Symptoms Inventory. Zero-order correlations were used to investigate study hypotheses. Results: Adolescents with higher platelet count showed better levels of self-reported cognitive functioning (r = .57, p = .007). Lower self-reported cognitive functioning was associated with worse levels of fatigue (r = -.61, p = .003). Non-parametric analysis showed similar results. No other associations were statistically significant. Conclusions: Results showed a large effect between a biomarker for SCD disease severity and youth-reported cognitive functioning. Specifically, higher platelet count was associated with better youth-reported cognitive functioning. Platelet count has received sparse attention with respect to functional cognitive outcomes in SCD, but our novel finding suggests that this relationship warrants further investigation. Higher levels of fatigue also was associated strongly with worse youth-reported cognitive functioning, which is consistent with the extant SCD literature. The current preliminary sample will be expanded to more robustly examine this relationship between SCD disease biomarkers, fatigue, and cognition.

Poster

02/15/2024
09:30 am - 10:40 am
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)

Poster Session 03: Neurotrauma | Neurovascular

Final Abstract #31

The Relationship Between Sickle Cell Disease Biomarkers, Fatigue, and Cognitive Functioning

Hannes Heppner, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, United States
Cindy Karlson, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, United States
Donna Platt, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, United States

Category: Medical/Neurological Disorders/Other (Child)

Keyword 1: sickle cell disease
Keyword 2: fatigue
Keyword 3: cognitive functioning

Objective:

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an autosomal recessive blood disease, impacting affected individuals negatively through abnormal and sickle-shaped hemoglobin molecules. Prior research has robustly identified chronic fatigue and sleep difficulties as common features of SCD. Further, compared with healthy controls, youth with SCD show reduced cognitive functioning. However, little research to date has investigated the relationship between disease biomarkers (hemoglobin, hematocrit, absolute reticulocyte count, platelet level), fatigue, sleep duration, and cognitive functioning in youth with SCD. We hypothesized that better SCD blood biomarkers would be associated with less fatigue, longer sleep duration, and better cognitive functioning.

Participants and Methods:

Cross-sectional chart review was conducted for a preliminary sample of 21 Black/African American youth with SCD (M_age = 12.64, SD = 3.22, 59.1% females). Hemoglobin, hematocrit, absolute reticulocyte count, platelet level were collected as part of routine medical care via finger stick. Demographic information, youth and parent-reported sleep, youth-reported fatigue, and youth and parent-reported cognitive functioning data were collected via the PROMIS v1.0 Pediatric profile and the Family Symptoms Inventory. Zero-order correlations were used to investigate study hypotheses.

Results:

Adolescents with higher platelet count showed better levels of self-reported cognitive functioning (r = .57, p = .007). Lower self-reported cognitive functioning was associated with worse levels of fatigue (r = -.61, p = .003). Non-parametric analysis showed similar results. No other associations were statistically significant.

Conclusions:

Results showed a large effect between a biomarker for SCD disease severity and youth-reported cognitive functioning. Specifically, higher platelet count was associated with better youth-reported cognitive functioning. Platelet count has received sparse attention with respect to functional cognitive outcomes in SCD, but our novel finding suggests that this relationship warrants further investigation. Higher levels of fatigue also was associated strongly with worse youth-reported cognitive functioning, which is consistent with the extant SCD literature. The current preliminary sample will be expanded to more robustly examine this relationship between SCD disease biomarkers, fatigue, and cognition.