title: Evolution of sickle cell disease from a life-threatening disease of children to a chronic disease of adults: The last 40 years.
abstract: Over the past 40 years, public health measures such as universal newborn screening, penicillin prophylaxis, vaccinations, and hydroxyurea therapy have led to an impressive decline in sickle cell disease (SCD)-related childhood mortality and SCD-related morbidity in high-income countries. We remain cautiously optimistic that the next 40 years will be focused on meeting current challenges in SCD by addressing chronic complications of SCD to reduce mortality and improve quality of life in a growing population of adults with SCD in high-income countries, while simultaneously decreasing the disparity of medical care between high and low-income countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Shruti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chaturvedi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt-Meharry Sickle Cell Disease Center of Excellence, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: DeBaun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D000986:Antisickling Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000986:Antisickling Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D006918:Hydroxyurea