Global burden of sickle cell disease in 2021

The GBD 2021 Sickle Cell Disease Collaborators recently reported the results of their systematic survey of the global, regional, and national prevalence and mortality of sickle cell disease from 2000 to 2021, as part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021. 1 GBD 2021 Sickle Cell Disease CollaboratorsGlobal, regional, and national prevalence and mortality burden of sickle cell disease, 2000–2021: a systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet Haematol. 2023; 10: e585-e599 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (7) Google Scholar Although this study aims to provide much-needed data on the global epidemiology and natural history of sickle cell disease, we have serious concerns about the accuracy of the data. Global burden of sickle cell disease in 2021 – Authors' replyFor individual patients, diagnosis of sickle cell disease is paramount for facilitating intervention and treatment and alleviating suffering. However, as we hope is evident from our recent shared global experience of trying to understand the dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic (and certainly holds true here), data collection alone is insufficient to inform public health efforts: it must also be accompanied by transparent and timely public sharing of data. Timeliness in data sharing is especially important when assessing trends in diseases like sickle cell disease, for which migration has the potential to rapidly shift the domestic landscape of a disease. Full-Text PDF