The incidence and causes of death in a follow-up study of individuals with haemoglobin AS and AA.

A cohort of 574 black Adults (mean age 47 years with a range of 28-73 years) with sickle cell trait (haemoglobin AS) which had been age and sex matched with 1148 controls (haemoglobin AA) was monitored for 7 years. We found no evidence of excess mortality or differential causes of mortality between cases and controls. There were no case deaths related to kidney disease, splenic infarcts, or pregnancy. Reports in the literature have been inconsistent with regard to the health effects of sickle cell trait. These findings suggest that discrimination against trait carriers in terms of life insurance premiums and some job opportunities are unjustified.