IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON SICKLE CELL DISEASE PATIENTS A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Objective:Thereviewaimedto examine the evidencefortheimpactofCOVID-19onSickleCellDisease(SCD) patients. Background: Coronavirusdisease (COVID-19) continues to ravage various parts of the world, with increasing cases of morbidity and mortality. The coronavirus primarily targets therespiratory system, although it affects other organs. Evidence shows that patients with pre-existingconditions, suchas SCD,areato higherriskofdevelopingsevereCOVID-19illness anddeath. Methods:Anarrativereview wasconductedthroughacomputerizedsearchonthePubMeddatabase.Tenarticlesmettheinclusioncriteriaandwereincludedinthesynthesis. Discussion:Thefindings ofthereview showthatSCD patientsareatincreasedriskofsevereillnessanddeathwheninfectedwithCOVID-19duetotheirimmunocompromisedstate. Although there is heterogenicity in results, most studies concur that SCD complications such asVaso-occlusive crisis (VOC), Acute Chest Syndrome (ACS), stroke, and acute anemia pose thegreatestriskofmorbidityandmortality.However,mostpatientsshowfavorableoutcomeswhenprovidingwith properintervention. Conclusion:Basedonthefindingsofthisreview,patientswithSCDhavesignificantlyadverseCOVID-19outcomes.