Burden of disease, treatment utilization, and the impact on education and employment in patients with sickle cell disease: A comparative analysis of high- and low- to middle-income countries for the international Sickle Cell World Assessment Survey.

ABSTRACT: The international Sickle Cell World Assessment Survey (SWAY) reported a high impact of sickle cell disease (SCD) on patients' daily lives globally. In this study, we analyzed whether the reported burden differed between patients from the USA (n = 384) and other high-income (HI; n = 820) or low- to middle-income (LMI; n = 941) countries. We assessed symptoms and complications, incidence/management of vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs), treatment utilization/satisfaction, and the impact of SCD on education/employment. Certain symptoms (bone aches, insomnia, and joint stiffness) and complications (swollen/painful fingers/toes, gallstones, vision problems, blood clots, and asthma) were reported proportionally more by patients in the USA than in the HI/LMI countries. Self-reported VOCs were more comm

SUBMITTER: Osunkwo I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9540420 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature