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ASH 2021 | Investigating rates of COVID-19 infection in patients with sickle cell disease

Fuad El Rassi, MD, Emory University School of Medicine and Georgia Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, Atlanta, GA, presents data on COVID-19 infection and mortality in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). 1343 patients in a clinical database from the Grady Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center were monitored, and 55 patients contracted COVID-19 from a period of March 2020 to March 2021. 64% of patients with COVID-19 had hemoglobin SS disease, 31% had hemoglobin SC disease, and 5% had sickle beta plus (Sβ+) thalassemia. 80% of diagnosed patients visited to the emergency department or were hospitalized and 29% required treatment. Symptoms experienced included pain, coughing, fever, dyspnea and pneumonia. Two patients died, which occurred in June and July 2020, during the first peak of the pandemic. During the course of the year, measures were implemented to reduce COVID-19 mortality amongst patients with SCD, including virtual appointments held by the center. As patients avoided visiting the center, there were no deaths from COVID-19 during the second peak, and rates of hospitalization due to serious infection decreased with the advent of more efficacious treatment options. This press briefing was recorded at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2021 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Atlanta, GA.