Incidence Rate of COVID-19 Infection in Hemoglobinopathies: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Prognostic factors associated with COVID-19 related severity in sickle cell disease

“…Our symptomatic infection rate was 3.3%, compared to a symptomatic infection rate median of 8.6% in the general U.S. population [22] . Our data contrasts with a meta-analysis finding a higher incidence of COVID-19 infection, but with a wide confidence interval, than in the general population [2] , and may be related to our patients' compliance with COVID-19 mitigation measures such as social distancing (personal observation of one of our SCD physicians, Dr. Shi), as lack of access to care and testing is unlikely given that all patients included in the study had been seen in the year 2020. Interestingly, the sickle genotype distribution of our COVID-19 infected patients was significantly different from the SCD US population distribution [20] .…”

“…There is equipoise as to whether sickle cell disease (SCD) is a risk factor for disease severity with COVID-19. Some studies support that SCD increases risk for COVID-19 disease severity [1] , [2] , [3] , [4] , [5] , [6] , whereas other studies do not [7] , [8] . Despite possible increased COVID-19 disease severity in SCD, one large study did not show an increased fatality rate in SCD [4] .…”

“…Despite possible increased COVID-19 disease severity in SCD, one large study did not show an increased fatality rate in SCD [4] . Patient variables associated with increased clinical severity of COVID-19 infection in SCD patients include older age [1] , [9] , comorbidities [1] , [8] , [9] , [10] , not being on hydroxyurea (HU) [1] , [9] , history of stroke [2] , [8] and black race [5] . Non-SCD studies show similar risk factors such as older age [11] , [12] , comorbidities [11] , [12] , as well as being a health care worker (HCW) [13] , [14] .…”

Efficacy and Safety of Sinopharm Vaccine for Sars-Cov-2 and Breakthrough Infections in Iranian Patients With Hemoglobinopathies: A Preliminary Report

“…In patients with hemoglobinopathies (thalassemias and sickle cell disease), several factors (iron overload, frequent hospital visits and admissions, immunodeficiency related to the disease itself, continuous use of medications, or associated complications) could predispose subjects to an increased risk for acquiring COVID-19 and consequent complications. [12][13][14][15] Moreover, higher mortality has been reported in subjects with thalassemias than the general infected population. 12 For all these reasons, patients with hemoglobinopathies were registered as the first group to get the vaccine in Iran.…”

“…[12][13][14][15] Moreover, higher mortality has been reported in subjects with thalassemias than the general infected population. 12 For all these reasons, patients with hemoglobinopathies were registered as the first group to get the vaccine in Iran.…”