OBJECTIVES: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited red blood cell disease leading to hemolysis, vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs), and significant morbidity. This study aimed to describe the healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) of patients with SCD with recurrent VOCs in England.

METHODS: This longitudinal, retrospective cohort study utilized the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (linked with secondary care data [Hospital Episode Statistics]) in England to identify patients with a primary or secondary diagnosis for SCD between July 1, 2008, and June 30, 2018. Eligible patients with SCD were required to have ≥2 VOCs per year in any 2 consecutive years. A VOC was defined as any of the following: SCD with crisis, priapism, or acute chest syndrome. Patients were required to have ≥1 year of follow-up data after their index date (second VOC in the second year of 2 consecutive years). Patients were followed from the index date until censoring, defined as death, patient deregistration, practice discontinuing its contribution to the database, or end of study period (June 30, 2019). Demographics were assessed at the index date, and VOCs and HCRU were summarized during the follow-up period.

RESULTS: A total of 1,117 patients met the inclusion criteria for SCD with recurrent VOCs. The mean age of patients at the index date was 25.0 years, 51.4% were female, and 91.6% were Black. Patients experienced an average of 5.8 VOCs per-patient-per-year (PPPY) during the follow-up period. Patients averaged 22.17 secondary care visits PPPY. Of these (all PPPY), 4.97 were accident and emergency hospitalizations, 9.60 were outpatient visits, and 7.59 were inpatient hospitalizations. Patients averaged 2.98 inpatient hospitalizations PPPY that lasted ≥1 day. Patients averaged 31.06 prescriptions PPPY and 6.98 primary care visits PPPY.

CONCLUSIONS: There is substantial HCRU associated with the care of patients with SCD driven by VOCs and hospitalizations.