Patients in sub-Saharan Africa less likely to know details about their disease variant, use over-the-counter medications, and go to the hospital for pain crises
(WASHINGTON — Apr. 14, 2026) — Individuals living with sickle cell disease in sub-Saharan Africa face disparities in treatment and health care access when compared with those in other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) or high-income countries (HICs), according to findings published in Blood Global Hematology, a journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH).
“This is the first study to compare the experiences of individuals living in sub-Saharan Africa, where the burden of sickle cell disease is greatest, with the experiences of those living in other LMICs and in HICs,” said first study author Baba Inusa, MBBS, professor of paediatric haematology at the Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine of King’s College London. “We found that, despite having the same disease, regional and cultural differences substantially influence how they manage their condition.”