INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 03 Program Schedule 02/15/2024 09:30 am - 10:40 am Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120) Poster Session 03: Neurotrauma \| Neurovascular Final Abstract #79 Predictors of Parent-Reported Transition Readiness for Youth Living with Sickle Cell Disease Tiffany Tucker, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, United States Amanda Cook, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, United States Victoria Seghatol-Eslami, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, United States Shreya Grandhi, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, United States Caroline Schock, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, United States Satvi Penala, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, United States Lauren Lindsey, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, United States Donna Murdaugh, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, United States Category: Medical/Neurological Disorders/Other (Child) Keyword 1: sickle cell disease Keyword 2: pediatric neuropsychology Keyword 3: quality of life Objective: Comprehensive medical care teams contribute substantially to decreasing mortality and morbidity rates for youth living with sickle cell disease (SCD). Youth living with SCD have the advantage of access to closer monitoring, screening, and treatments through SCD clinics. However, significant barriers still exist for youth living with SCD when transitioning to adult healthcare settings. The transition of care is a complex process that begins with a prerequisite of neurocognitive skills, as well as skills of independence, self-determination, and decision-making. In health-burdened populations, these skills are in high demand for transition readiness. Yet, youth living with SCD are at higher risk for neurocognitive difficulties. These findings raise important questions about the potential effects of neurocognitive functioning on transition readiness in youth living with SCD. Participants and Methods: This study investigated a cohort of 30 youth living with SCD (ages 10-16, 15 males, 15 females; HbSS [56.7%], HbSB0 [6.7%], HbSB+ [10%], HbSC [26.7%]) who underwent a neuropsychological evaluation. Participants were excluded from the current study if they had a history of neurological disorder (overt stroke, seizures, or Moyamoya disease) or prescribed psychotropic medication. Cognitive flexibility (CF), working memory (WM), processing speed (PS), full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ), and parent and self-reported transition readiness questionnaires were collected. Demographics and disease-related risk factors were analyzed individually from medical records. Partial correlations were conducted to explore associations with transition readiness. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted in order to explore the relationship between transition readiness and cognitive performance. All analyses controlled for age at evaluation, SCD genotype, and sex. Results: Partial correlations indicated that parent-reported transition readiness was significantly correlated with WM (r= 0.389, p=0.045), while self-reported transition readiness was significantly correlated with WM (r= -0.478, p=0.033) and FSIQ (r= -0.490, p=0.028). Multiple linear regressions revealed that increased WM significantly predicted better parent-reported transition readiness (β=0.032, p=0.036) and increased parent-reported healthcare-related behaviors (β=0.121, p=0.008). Regarding self-reported transition readiness, older age was a significant predictor of increased healthcare-related behaviors (β=2.138, p < 0.001) and overall transition readiness (β=0.190, p=0.015). PS and CF did not significantly predict transition readiness. Conclusions: Results support WM and older age as potential protective factors for transition readiness in youth living with SCD. WM is a form of executive functioning (EF), a domain that is important for cultivating skills of independence and completing goal-directed tasks. As youth living with SCD transition to adult health care, prerequisite skills of EF are essential for navigating adult health care settings, managing appointments and medications, and disease-knowledge. Research should replicate these findings with increased sample sizes. Findings from the current study may inform future strategies/interventions to promote cognitive skills for successful transition to adult healthcare in an effort to decrease morbidity and early mortality rates in young adults living with SCD.

Poster

02/15/2024
09:30 am - 10:40 am
Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120)

Poster Session 03: Neurotrauma | Neurovascular

Final Abstract #79

Predictors of Parent-Reported Transition Readiness for Youth Living with Sickle Cell Disease

Tiffany Tucker, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, United States
Amanda Cook, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, United States
Victoria Seghatol-Eslami, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, United States
Shreya Grandhi, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, United States
Caroline Schock, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, United States
Satvi Penala, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, United States
Lauren Lindsey, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, United States
Donna Murdaugh, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, United States

Category: Medical/Neurological Disorders/Other (Child)

Keyword 1: sickle cell disease
Keyword 2: pediatric neuropsychology
Keyword 3: quality of life

Objective:

Comprehensive medical care teams contribute substantially to decreasing mortality and morbidity rates for youth living with sickle cell disease (SCD). Youth living with SCD have the advantage of access to closer monitoring, screening, and treatments through SCD clinics. However, significant barriers still exist for youth living with SCD when transitioning to adult healthcare settings. The transition of care is a complex process that begins with a prerequisite of neurocognitive skills, as well as skills of independence, self-determination, and decision-making. In health-burdened populations, these skills are in high demand for transition readiness. Yet, youth living with SCD are at higher risk for neurocognitive difficulties. These findings raise important questions about the potential effects of neurocognitive functioning on transition readiness in youth living with SCD.

Participants and Methods:

This study investigated a cohort of 30 youth living with SCD (ages 10-16, 15 males, 15 females; HbSS [56.7%], HbSB0 [6.7%], HbSB+ [10%], HbSC [26.7%]) who underwent a neuropsychological evaluation. Participants were excluded from the current study if they had a history of neurological disorder (overt stroke, seizures, or Moyamoya disease) or prescribed psychotropic medication. Cognitive flexibility (CF), working memory (WM), processing speed (PS), full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ), and parent and self-reported transition readiness questionnaires were collected. Demographics and disease-related risk factors were analyzed individually from medical records. Partial correlations were conducted to explore associations with transition readiness. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted in order to explore the relationship between transition readiness and cognitive performance. All analyses controlled for age at evaluation, SCD genotype, and sex.

Results:

Partial correlations indicated that parent-reported transition readiness was significantly correlated with WM (r= 0.389, p=0.045), while self-reported transition readiness was significantly correlated with WM (r= -0.478, p=0.033) and FSIQ (r= -0.490, p=0.028). Multiple linear regressions revealed that increased WM significantly predicted better parent-reported transition readiness (β=0.032, p=0.036) and increased parent-reported healthcare-related behaviors (β=0.121, p=0.008). Regarding self-reported transition readiness, older age was a significant predictor of increased healthcare-related behaviors (β=2.138, p < 0.001) and overall transition readiness (β=0.190, p=0.015). PS and CF did not significantly predict transition readiness.

Conclusions:

Results support WM and older age as potential protective factors for transition readiness in youth living with SCD. WM is a form of executive functioning (EF), a domain that is important for cultivating skills of independence and completing goal-directed tasks. As youth living with SCD transition to adult health care, prerequisite skills of EF are essential for navigating adult health care settings, managing appointments and medications, and disease-knowledge. Research should replicate these findings with increased sample sizes. Findings from the current study may inform future strategies/interventions to promote cognitive skills for successful transition to adult healthcare in an effort to decrease morbidity and early mortality rates in young adults living with SCD.