Illnesses Effect on System (if applicable)

Diabetes Sickle Cell Anemia Heart Disease Urinary Tract

Infection
Cardiovascular Blood vessels harden
and plaque
developed causing
lack of blood supply
to necessary organs

Increase risk of heart
diseases (heart
attack,
cardiovascular
complications)

Hypertension
increases risk of
stroke
Chronic anemia in
sickle cell disease can
result in left
ventricular
hypertrophy and LV
Dysfunction

Clots in the blood
due to sickled cells
poor blood flow

Low blood flow and
low hematocrit can
lead to splenic
sequestration
(enlarged spleen)

(Atherosclerosis)
Veins and Arteries
harden along with
plaque build up
causing blood clots

Irregular heart
rhythms
(arrhythmias) can
change the rate of
blood flow
potentially harming
different aspects of
the body
The increased stress
on heart due to the
increase of blood
flow to the infected
area (UTI) to fight
the infection can
lead to Sepsis, or
sepsis shock




Digestive Gastroparesis: may
be caused by damage
of the vagus nerve
when blood sugar
has been high for a
period of years

Bilirubin gallstones -
sickle cells die in 20
days; liver breaks
down the bilirubin;
extra bilirubin can
become a gallstone
in the gallbladder


(bilirubin forms bile)
Blockage of
oxygen-rich blood
flow to the small
intestine or colon
will result in
intestinal ischemia:
inflammation and
injury of the small
intestine
Most often, UTIs are
caused by bacteria
from the digestive
tract

If the bacteria pass
through the ureters
up to the kidney,
they can cause a
kidney infection
Immune Immune System
destroys insulin
producing cells

Immune response is
in diabetics therefore
they are more
susceptible to
infections

Low WBC count leads
to weakened
Immune System.

Leads to infections,
skin ulcers, and
sickness
Autoimmune
system and
Immune system
attacks its own
antigens leading to
inflammation
Increased
production of
lymphocytes (B & T
cells) and
antibodies against
the bacteria;
Inflammatory
response (may
increase additional
UTI and/or damage
to urinary tract
structures
Nervous Excessive blood
glucose levels
damage blood
vessels leading to
nerve damage

Neuropathy is
common amongst
diabetics: nerve
damage in the
peripheral nervous
system
Lack of blood to
extremities can lead
to stroke

"silent cerebral
infarcts" are even
more frequent
Blood blockages
cause nerve
damage

Parasympathetic
activation and its
effects are
weakened in HF.
Changes in vagus
nerve control of
heart rate become
apparent in the
developmental
stage of LV
dysfunction,
increasing the risk
of a myocardial
dysfunction or
heart attack

Spinal Cord
Abnormalities
increase the risk of
developing a
Urinary tract
infection
Respiratory Rapid or labored can
be a sign of diabetic
ketoacidosis

Can also result in
lung damage
Lung-related
complication of sickle
cell disease can lower
the levels of oxygen
in the blood and can
be life- threatening.
(Acute chest
syndrome.)
Poor blood
circulation can
cause shortness of
breath

Acute Chest
Syndrome
Sepsis/Sepsis Shock
high bacteria levels
Urinary Long term effect of
diabetes can include
kidney damage and
damage to nerves
controlling the
bladder which can
result in difficulty
urinating or urinary
incontinence
Urinary Tract
Infection

Some amount of
kidney damage
occurs in nearly
every person with
sickle cell disease.

Causes damage to
organs making
them work
inefficiently

Kidney damage
Urinary Tract
Infection

Can lead to
Sepsis/Sepsis Shock




Sources:
Specific Problems: Urinary Tract Symptoms - Sickle Cell Information Center. (n.d.). Specific Problems:
Urinary Tract Symptoms - Sickle Cell Information Center. Retrieved June 2, 2014, from
https://scinfo.org/problem-oriented-clinical-guidelines/specific-problems-urinary-tract-symptoms
Urinary Tract Infections . (2013, January 1). . Retrieved June 1, 2014, from
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Urinary_tract_infections
Warning Signs of Heart Failure. (2012, January 1). Warning Signs of Heart Failure. Retrieved June 2,
2014, from
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartFailure/WarningSignsforHeartFailure/Warning-
Signs-of-Heart-Failure_UCM_002045_Article.jsp