Aim Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) have historically weighed less than their healthy peers. More recently, a retrospective chart review from six institutions in New England reported nearly one‐quarter of children and adolescents with SCD had raised body mass index (BMI). This study aimed to examine rates of children with SCD with raised BMI in Mississippi compared to state and national norms and assess the correlation between haemoglobin and BMI. Methods A retrospective chart review of paediatric patients with SCD at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) was conducted using data from the most recent clinic visit. Mississippi and national weight status estimates for youth 10–17 years were obtained from the 2016–2017 National Survey of Children's Health. Results For youth 10–17 years with SCD (n = 345), 21.4.% of children with SS/Sβ° and 36.1% with SC/Sβ+ had raised BMI compared to Mississippi and national rates, 39.2 and 31%, respectively. The prevalence of children with raised BMI with SC/Sβ+ did not differ from state and national rates, while children with SS/Sβ° were half as likely as their Mississippi peers to have raised BMI. Haemoglobin levels were different among children with SCD who had low BMI (8.80 g/dL), average BMI (9.2 g/dL) and raised BMI (10.5 g/dL) (P < 0.001). Conclusions Children with SCD evaluated at UMMC have similar rates of raised BMI compared to state and national norms. Children with raised BMI have higher mean haemoglobin levels compared to children with SCD with low or average BMI. Implications and Contribution Historically, patients with SCD have been underweight and normal weight. Our paediatric and adolescent patients with SCD now have prevalence rates of raised BMI that approach state and national rates. Further work must be done to determine whether this reflects healthier children with SCD or raises concerns about life‐style‐related comorbidities.

No abstract

Background: Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) have higher resting basal metabolic rates than healthy peers and have historically been underweight. Current treatments increase patients' hemoglobin (Hb) level and decrease reticulocytosis, which may in turn decrease patients' basal metabolic rates. Objective: To examine the rates of overweight and obesity in children with SCD compared to state and national norms and to assess the correlation between Hb and weight status. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients with SCD between the ages of 2-19 years from October 2013 until April 2019. Data were collected from the most recent clinic visit and Body Mass Index (BMI) percentiles were calculated using Center for Disease Control growth charts. Mississippi and national weight status estimates for youth 10-17 years were obtained from the 2016-2017 National Survey of Children's Health. Results: Data were available for 787 patients. For children 10-17 years (n = 480), 24.5% of patients were overweight/obese compared to Mississippi and national rates, 39.2% and 31%, respectively. The prevalence of 10-17 year olds who were overweight (12.7%) was not significantly different from Mississippi (13.1%) or national (15.2%) (p = 0.13). Hb were different among patients who were underweight (8.80g/dL), normal weight (9.2g/dL), and overweight/obese (10.5g/dL) (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Children with SCD in Mississippi have similar rates of overweight compared to state and national norms and have higher Hb than patients with SCD who are normal weight/underweight. The impact of increased BMI in SCD is unknown and additional longitudinal studies are needed.