Adults with SCD face high risk of stroke in their 30s and 40s, study finds

Adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) face a substantial risk of stroke, most often in their 30s and 40s, with lasting physical disability and cognitive impairment, a new study reports.

Also, despite recommendations, few patients received blood transfusions shortly after stroke, underscoring “significant gaps in acute stroke management,” the researchers wrote.

Key among the study’s findings, according to the team, was a lack of preventive care during childhood for people with SCD.