Health
Sickle cell disease (SCD)was associated with a significantly increased risk of COVID-19-relatedhospitalization and death in adults, U.K. researchers found
A total of 5,059 individuals in the cohort had SCD (0.04%) and 25,682 (0.21%) had sickle cell trait. There were very few COVID-19-related hospitalizations in children with SCD (i.e., “fewer than five”), and no deaths. However, adults with SCD had 40 hospitalizations (0.79%), and 20 (0.20%) died. Sickle cell trait was associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 hospitalization and death, but to a lesser degree, the researchers reported. There were 98 (0.38%) hospitalizations and 50 (0.19%) deaths among persons with sickle cell trait, and the trait was therefore associated with higher risks for COVID-19-related hospitalization (HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.12-1.70) and death (HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.13-2.00). […]