Aims: Alcoholism is a global public health problem with significant socioeconomic
implications. The aim was to investigate the effect of alcoholism on the haematologicaland haemostatic parameters of consecutively recruited alcoholics in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi
State and North Western Nigeria. Study Design and Methodology: This prospective case-control study included one
hundred adults alcoholics [=18 years), aged range (18-60), mean age (38.46 ± 13.26) and
made up of 68 males (68%) and 32 females (32%)]. Fifty gender and age matched non- alcoholics were monitored as controls. Ethical approval was obtained from the research
and ethics committee in the Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science of the Usmanu
Danfodiyo University Sokoto, North Western Nigeria. Written informed consent was
obtained from all study subjects after counselling.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at the service laboratory in the
Department of Haematology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science in Usmanu
Danfodiyo University in Sokoto North Western Nigeria between May 2011 to February,
2012.
Result: Participants for this study included 50 heavy alcoholics and 50 moderate
alcoholics (subjects) and 50 age and gender –matched non-alcoholics (controls). Platelet
count of non-alcoholics, moderate and heavy alcoholics was; 260.7 ± 48.17, 253.3 ±
43.16 and 130.6 ± 6.79 respectively. Platelet count was significantly lower among heavy
alcoholics compared to non-alcoholics (p=0.0001). Although marginally higher, there was
no statistically significant difference in the platelet count of moderate alcoholics and non- alcoholics (p=0.10). We observed a negative correlation between platelet count and
duration of alcoholism (r=-0.62). The mean prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial
thromboplastin time (APTT) values of non-alcoholics, moderate alcoholics and heavy
alcoholics was; (14.46 ± 0.97 and 34.82 ± 13.71), (15.74 ± 1.26 and 35.78 ± 3.50) and
(19.46 ± 0.93 and 43.42 ± 5.13) respectively. Prothrombin time and activated partial
thromboplastin time values were significantly lower among heavy alcoholics compared to
non-alcoholics (p=0.0001). PT and APTT were marginally higher among moderate
alcoholics compared to non-alcoholics but the difference however was not statistically
significant (p= 0.08 and 0.62 respectively). We observed a positive correlation between
duration of alcoholism and prolonged prothrombin time and activated partial
thromboplastin time (r = 0.46 and 0.55 respectively).
Conclusion: Our study has shown that alcoholism produces a significant adverse effect
on some haematological and haemostatic parameters. Evidenced data generated from
this study can facilitate the development of a policy on the effective management of
haematological and haemostatic complications associated with alcoholism. There is need
to enact laws that regulate the production, sales and consumption of various alcoholic
beverages to prevent abuse and protect the health of citizens.