• Lanetta Jordan, Patricia Adams-Graves, Julie Kanter-Washko, Patricia A Oneal, Medha Sasane, Francis Vekeman, Christine Bieri, Matthew Magestro, Andrea Marcellari, and Mei Sheng Duh.
• Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine , Miami, FL , USA.
• Curr Med Res Opin. 2015 Mar 1; 31 (3): 513-23.

BackgroundOver the past few decades, lifespans of sickle cell disease (SCD) patients have increased; hence, they encounter multiple complications. Early detection, appropriate comprehensive care, and treatment may prevent or delay onset of complications.ObjectiveWe collected longitudinal data on sickle cell disease (SCD) complication rates and associated resource utilization relative to blood transfusion patterns and iron chelation therapy (ICT) use in patients aged ≥16 years to address a gap in the literature.Research Design And MethodsMedical records of 254 SCD patients ≥16 years were retrospectively reviewed at three US tertiary care centers.Main Outcome MeasuresWe classified patients into cohorts based on cumulative units of blood transfused and ICT history: <15 units, no ICT (Cohort 1 [C1]), ≥15 units, no ICT (Cohort 2 [C2]), and ≥15 units with ICT (Cohort 3 [C3]). We report SCD complication rates per patient per year; cohort comparisons use rate ratios (RRs).ResultsCohorts had 69 (C1), 91 (C2), and 94 (C3) patients. Pain led to most hospitalizations (76%) and emergency department (ED) (82%) visits. Among transfused patients (C2+C3), those receiving ICT were less likely to experience SCD complications than those who did not (RR [95% CI] C2 vs. C3: 1.33 [1.25-1.42]). Similar trends (RR [95% CI]) were observed in ED visits and hospitalizations associated with SCD complications (C2 vs. C3, ED: 1.94 [1.70-2.21]; hospitalizations: 1.61 [1.45-1.78]), but not in outpatient visits.ConclusionsAlthough the most commonly reported SCD complication among all patients was pain, patients who received ICT were less likely to experience pain and other complications than those who did not. These results highlight the need for increased patient and provider education on the importance of comprehensive disease management.

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