Sickle Cell Hospitalizations Are Getting More Severe—And Where Patients Live Matters

Data from a large New York State analysis found that sickle cell disease hospitalizations are becoming more severe over time, with significant regional disparities in outcomes, costs, and access to specialized care.

Emerging data published in JAMA Network Open found significant geographic and temporal disparities in outcomes following hospitalization due to sickle cell disease (SCD) in New York State over more than a decade. Hospitalizations increasingly reflected higher severity of illness and mortality, with the highest levels displayed in 2022. These data shed light on persistent gaps in accessibility to specialized care and the growing need for region-specific interventions.1