ABSTRACT
Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) were categorized as a high-risk group, as they might develop a series of life-threatening complications owing to systemic vasculopathy and their modulated immune system. In this review, 20 articles published between December 2019 and January 2021 were included, which reported cases of patients with SCD diagnosed with COVID-19. Patients and methods A total of 343 patients with SCD worldwide were included (mean age is 25 years). Overall, 56% of the study population was female. A total of 322 patients had symptoms;193 patients presented with vaso-occlusive crises and COVID-19 symptoms. Moreover, 15% reported only vaso-occlusive crises symptoms without COVID-19 symptoms. Typical acute chest syndrome symptoms were reported in 27 patients. Results Overall, 79% of the population was admitted to hospitals. Blood transfusion was received by 51%, and 23% needed oxygen. Mortality was reported in 18 (5%) patients. The outcome of COVID-19 in patients with SCD did not significantly differ from the general population and seems better compared with the other vulnerable groups. Conclusion Proinflammatory status in patients with SCD and frequent use of some medications, such as hydroxyurea, can explain this outcome and could be the reason for reduced COVID-19 complications in patients with SCD. Further molecular studies are needed to understand how SARS-CoV-2 could affect patients with SCD. (C) 2022 The Egyptian Journal of Haematology
ABSTRACT
Objectives: To assess the prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection among sickle cell disease (SCD) patients in Jazan region and to determine the impact of COVID-19 on the SCD population. Methods: This was an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study using a self-administrated questionnaire directed to SCD patients in Jazan to assess the prevalence of COVID-19. The data were analyzed using a t-test and Chi-square test. Results: A total of 188 responses were received and only 96 SCD patients were included (mean age is 24 years). About half of the study samples (53%) of the study population were male. About 11% of patients with SCD were diagnosed with COVID-19. Vaso-occlusive crisis was reported in 73% and a single patient presented with acute chest syndrome. About three-fourths of patients (73%) were admitted to the hospital and most of them experienced mild symptoms and one patient was treated in the intensive care unit. Conclusion: SCD patients are at risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the absence of comorbidities, patients with SCD are not at increased risk of COVID-19 mortality, but a higher admission rate is reported. SCD patients with COVID-19 may have a milder clinical course, compared to other populations with comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension, and this may be due to proinflammatory adaptation of the immune system. Larger studies including epidemiological and molecular details are needed to enhance our understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 could affect patients with SCD. © 2022 Journal of Nature and Science of Medicine. All rights reserved.