Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) impacts approximately 100,000 individuals in the USA. Over 90% are Black or African American and about 3%–9% are of Hispanic or Latino origin.

SCD is classified as a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. Red blood cells have hemoglobin.

Hemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen through small blood vessels in the body. In SCD the hemoglobin is abnormal and the red blood cells are sickle or crescent-shaped. The sickle cells pass through the small blood vessels in the body, can become stuck and block blood flow. This can cause pain and other severe complications (CDC, 2024).

For more information, please visit the link below to learn more.

Reference

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). About Sickle Cell Disease.

https://www.cdc.gov/sickle-cell/about/index.html