Impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on pain crisis and acute chest syndrome in patients with sickle cell anemia: A retrospective multi-cohort study based on US national data from 2020 to 2022.

COVID-19 infection has been a significant contributor to global morbidity and mortality, especially among those patients with chronic diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have classified sickle cell disease (SCD) as a condition that increases the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 infection. A retrospective study was conducted using the TRiNetX health research network database to identify SCA patients ( HbSS, Sbeta-thalassemia zero) who had SARS-CoV-2 infection over 2 years; these were compared with similar patients who did not have the infection in terms of demographics, pain control, and laboratory parameters COVID-19 illness impacts [ain crises and ACS, and prior vaccination against influenza and COVID-19 may represent a protective factor for developing pain crises.