As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to continue our efforts to support vulnerable populations, who may be more at risk, such as people with sickle cell disease (SCD).
Sickle cell disease is a hereditary and life-threatening condition that causes ongoing vascular damage and repeated injury to the blood vessels and organs, including the heart and lungs. This lifelong illness often takes an extreme emotional, physical, and financial toll on patients and their families.
Novartis conducted the International Sickle Cell World Assessment Survey (SWAY) to assess the impact SCD has on the daily lives of patients, including the incidence and management of pain crises (called vaso-occlusive crises or VOCs). Here are five things we learned:
SWAY surveyed 2145 patients from 16 countries in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Africa.
A holistic approach to managing sickle cell disease
SCD is a global health problem, yet sub-Saharan Africa bears the highest burden of disease. There is a clear disparity between Africa and other parts of the world, where the condition is managed as a chronic disease.
SCD management requires an integrated, holistic approach. To this end, we took significant steps to expand our Africa Sickle Cell Disease program, which aims to improve the diagnosis and treatment for people with SCD. First launched in Ghana in November 2019, the program is now expanding to East Africa with launches planned in Uganda and Tanzania over the next months.