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A policy impact analysis of the mandatory NCAA sickle cell trait screening program
Beth A Tarini1, Margaret Alison Brooks, David G Bundy
1Child Health Evaluation and Research Unit, Division of General Pediatrics, University of Michigan, 300 N. Ingalls Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0456, USA. btarini@umich.edu
Health Services Research
|December 14, 2011
Summary
Mandatory sickle cell trait (SCT) screening for NCAA Division I athletes will identify over 2,000 carriers. Interventions based on this policy could prevent approximately seven sudden deaths in student-athletes over ten years.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Genetics
- Public Health
Background:
- Sickle cell trait (SCT) is an inherited condition.
- SCT can pose risks for student-athletes during intense exercise.
- The NCAA implemented mandatory SCT screening for Division I athletes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of the NCAA's SCT screening policy.
- To estimate the number of sickle cell carriers identified.
- To determine the potential for preventing sudden deaths.
Main Methods:
- Utilized NCAA reports and population-based SCT prevalence data.
- Calculated the number of student-athletes with SCT using conditional probability.
- Estimated exercise-related sudden deaths attributable to SCT over 10 years.
Main Results:
- An estimated 2,000+ NCAA Division I student-athletes with SCT are identified by the policy.
- Approximately seven NCAA Division I student-athletes may experience sudden death due to SCT complications over a decade without intervention.
Conclusions:
- Universal SCT screening effectively identifies numerous sickle cell carriers among NCAA athletes.
- Targeted interventions informed by screening can potentially prevent ~7 deaths annually.
