Comorbidities in sickle cell disease by age in the Indiana sickle cell data collection (IN-SCDC)

Survival for individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) is increasing, and along with it the potential for comorbid conditions that may be caused by cumulative tissue damage. This paper examines the prevalence of comorbidities among individuals with SCD in Indiana and assesses how these vary by age group.

Data from the Indiana Sickle Cell Data Collection program (2015-2021) were used to identify confirmed and probable SCD cases. Comorbidities-asthma, avascular necrosis, stroke, retinopathy, moyamoya disease, and sickle nephropathy-were identified using ICD-9/10 codes.

Among the 1689 individuals, the 0-17 age group was the largest (42.9%). Asthma was the most common comorbidity (23.7%), highest in the 18-39 age group. Avascular necrosis, stroke, and retinopathy increased with age, while moyamoya was most common in youth. Logistic regression showed increasing age was associated with the risk of any comorbidity risk.

This study confirmed a high comorbidity burden among individuals with SCD, and that the risk of having any of the examined comorbidities increased with age. Findings align with national data, though differences in asthma and stroke prevalence highlight the impact of data sources and population characteristics.

These results support the need for age-specific, multidisciplinary care strategies and provide valuable insights for clinicians, policymakers, and public health officials to improve outcomes and allocate resources effectively for the SCD population.