Comparison of Red Blood Cell Parameters and Indices between Alcoholics and Non-Alcoholics in Okrika Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Alcohol consumption may influence haematological status and red blood cell indices; however, local data from Okrika Local Government Area, Rivers State, remain limited. This study compared selected red blood cell parameters and indices between alcohol-consuming adults and non-alcohol-consuming controls in Okrika. A total of 100 adult participants were recruited through convenience sampling, comprising 50 alcohol-consuming participants and 50 non-alcohol-consuming participants. Venous blood samples were collected into dipotassium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid containers and analysed for full blood count using an automated haematology analyser. The parameters assessed were packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell count, mean cell volume, mean cell haemoglobin, mean cell haemoglobin concentration and red cell distribution width-coefficient of variation. Data were analysed statistically, and p≤0.05 was considered significant. The alcohol-consuming group had a higher mean packed cell volume than the non-alcohol-consuming group (38.68±5.22% versus 35.12±3.37%; p=0.01). Haemoglobin concentration was also higher among alcohol-consuming participants than among non-alcohol-consuming participants (12.8±1.7 g/dL versus 12.21±1.36 g/dL; p=0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in red blood cell count, mean cell volume, mean cell haemoglobin, mean cell haemoglobin concentration or red cell distribution width-coefficient of variation. These findings suggest that alcohol consumption in the study population was associated with significant differences in packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentration, while other red blood cell indices showed no significant variation.