title: Hospitalization of children with sickle cell disease in a region with increasing immigration rates.
abstract: Sickle cell disease (SCD) has become a paradigm of immigration hematology in Europe. Accurate up-to date information is needed to determine SCD prevalence, define real burden of disease and develop appropriate clinical networks of care, especially in regions lacking screening programs. We used two independent sources of data (Regional Register of Rare Disorders and Regional Register of Hospital Discharge Records) to determine extent of SCD and pattern of hospitalization of pediatric patients in the Veneto Region of NorthEast Italy. A steady increase of case notifications and hospitalizations has been observed in the past five years. Ninety-five percent of patients are immigrants with HbS/HbS SCD. Specialized regional registers can be used to define disease extent and guide targeted interventions in regions still lacking comprehensive care screening programs.
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colombatti
authors.forename: Laura Visonà
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Dalla Pozza
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazzucato
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sainati
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pierobon
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Facchin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D000415:Albania / Q000208:ethnology; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D001938:Brazil / Q000208:ethnology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006453:Hemoglobinopathies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D012042:Registries