The Global Burden of Sickle Cell Disease(SCD): Approaches to mitigate SCD health care disparities through collaborative research in sub-saharan Africa

This Global Health Grand Rounds: Sponsored by the Global Health Initiative as part of the Pediatric Residency Global Child Health Course

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the Global Burden of SCD in Subsaharan Africa
2. Describe the Clinical Phenotypic Variability of SCD Worldwide
3. Describe the active SCD Research and other Investigations and within SubSaharan Africa

Just over 100 years ago, sickle cell disease(SCD) was discovered in a patient in Chicago, IL. However,  It was described for hundreds of years before in Subsaharan Africa; It is estimated that ~ 80% of all the annual SCD  Births occur in sub-Saharan Africa ( ~ 242,000) compared to only 2600 SCD births in North America and 1300 SCD births In Europe. This supports the presumed hypothesis that the sickle cell gene frequency  overlaps with the malarial belts of the world. Global Mortality from SCD remains the highest in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in under-resourced and economically challenged countries within this region. The clinical presentation within all forms of sickle cell disease( i.e. Hgb SS, Hgb SC, Sickle Cell-Beta Thalassemia +,Sickle Cell Beta Thalassmia Zero Disease) varies significantly globally  which leads to a poorer understanding of the disease phenotype . To address this gap in knowledge of SCD, we have to  improve funding and expand research collaborations in SSA and other regions of the world where the incidence of the SCD is highest.  Outstanding researchers within SSA are making new discoveries within SCD pathophysiology and improving our understanding of SCD not only in Africa but across the world. I hope to show you that some of my research collaborations in SSA has my  enhanced knowledge in SCD globally and locally.