Description of a national, multi‐center registry of patients with sickle cell disease and SARS‐CoV‐2 infection: Data from the Pediatric COVID‐19 United States Registry

Abstract

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at risk of complications from viral infections, including SARS‐CoV‐2. We present the clinical characteristics and outcomes of pediatric patients with SCD from the Pediatric COVID‐19 United States Registry who developed acute COVID‐19 due to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection (n = 259) or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS‐C; n = 4). Nearly half of hospitalized children with SCD and SARS‐CoV‐2 infection required supplemental oxygen, though children with SCD had fewer intensive care (ICU) admissions compared to the general pediatric and immunocompromised populations. All registry patients with both SCD and MIS‐C required ICU admission. Children with SCD are at risk of severe disease with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, highlighting the importance of vaccination in this vulnerable population.