Statistics show that people with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) are more prone to stroke. SCD is a blood disorder wherein the red blood cells have crescent-shaped hemoglobin instead of being soft and round, making it difficult for the cells to pass through blood vessels.
Called Hemoglobin S (Sickle) instead of Hemoglobin A, the blood cells cannot properly carry oxygen to the various parts of the body causing tissue damage in that area. This then brings about various complications and chronic pain to the body, one of which is stroke.
Stroke occurs in 7% to 13% of children with SCD, particularly sickle cell anemia, according to the Department of Neurology of Boston's Children Hospital. It is estimated that 70,000-100,000 people in the United States are affected by sickle cell anemia, comprising mainly of African Americans.
Statistics from the American Heart Association, on the other hand, show that SCD, "is the most important cause of ischemic stroke among black children". In fact, children with SCD have 200 times greater risk to stroke than children without SCD.
This came about after a Stroke Prevention Trial in Sickle Cell Anemia (STOP) was conducted in 1998. STOP showed the effectiveness of blood transfusions as primary stroke prevention in high risk children with SCD. In a seven-year period ending 1998, 92.5% of 93 children with SCD were admitted to California hospitals due to ischemic stroke and 7.5% due to hemorrhagic stroke. Data also showed that hospital admissions in California for first-time stroke cases for persons aged 20 years with SCD declined from 0.88 per 100 person-years in 1998 to 0.17in 2000 after the STOP publication.
Statistics also show that boys were more risky to having ischemic stroke than girls, especially those belonging from different ethnic backgrounds, to wit, "Boys have a 1.28-fold higher risk of stroke and a higher case-fatality rate for ischemic stroke than girls. Compared with the stroke risk of white children, black children have a higher RR of 2.12, Hispanics have a lower RR of 0.76, and Asians have a similar risk. The increased risk among blacks is not fully explained by the presence of sickle cell disease, nor is the excess risk among boys fully explained by trauma."
Children, and anyone, with SCD should be given more attention when it comes to their health to decrease their tendency to suffer a stroke. Blood screening, particularly Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography, and transfusion is one of the recommended options by experts. Regular checkup with the doctor and vaccinations from infection is also needed.
A thorough understanding by both family and medical professionals, including nurses and caregivers, that SCD is a very serious illness is necessary for each one to be able to properly care for SCD patients as there are multiple signs, symptoms, and complications that come with it.
Statistics have clearly shown that children with SCD are more prone to stroke than anybody else. With cure for this disease still undiscovered, it is a must that children be screened early on from SCD to ensure that proper care be administered to them.
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