Blood Advances in a Different Vein
half of children ( 55.8 %) and just under half of adults ( 49.5 %) were treated with hydroxyurea . Penicillin was the second most prevalent SCD therapy taken by children ( 34.6 %).
Emergency department visits were reported in 59.1 % of children and 79.5 % of adults . Approximately 40 % of children and 60 % of adults were hospitalized .
At baseline , 56.3 % of children and 54.9 % of adult patients had mild COVID-19 severity , while 25.5 % of children and 10.4 % of adults had asymptomatic COVID-19 . Severe COVID-19 was reported in 7.1 % and 14.2 % of children and adults , respectively . Additionally , 1.1 % of children and 2.8 % of adults had critical COVID-19 .
A prior acute care visit for pain was the most prevalent SCD-related comorbidity in both children ( 55.5 %) and adults ( 78.8 %). Asthma was the most common comorbidity not related to SCD ( 23.9 % and 15.3 %). Other common non-SCD comorbidities included anxiety , depression , and behavioral problems in children , as well as CVD and
Pending further validation , these characteristics fill a significant knowledge gap and could be used to identify patients with SCD most at risk of developing serious COVID-19 .
hypertension in adults .
In an adjusted analysis , the researchers found that children were 2.15 times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 if they had frequent prior acute care visits for pain ( p < 0.0001 ). Children were also 1.61 times more likely to be hospitalized if they had SCD-related heart / lung
comorbidities ( p = 0.0001 ). Adults were 1.78 times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 if they had frequent prior acute care visits for pain ( p = 0.002 ).
Additionally , children had a 3.09 times higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 illness if they had a history of pain ( p = 0.009 ). Children with SCD-related heart / lung comorbidities had a 1.76 times higher likelihood of severe COVID-19 ( p = 0.03 ), while those with SCD-renal comorbidities had a 3.67 times higher likelihood of serious illness ( p < 0.0001 ). The likelihood of severe COVID-19 was 1.94 times higher in adults with a history of pain ( p = 0.02 ).
The overall mortality rate was 2.5 %, with one death among children and 18 deaths in the adult cohort . During COVID-19 illness , a high proportion of both children and adults reported pain as the most common presenting symptom ( 35.2 % vs . 67.4 %, respectively ). Acute chest syndrome was the second-most common presenting symptom during illness ( 14.8 % vs . 28.5 %). ●
The authors report no relevant conflicts of interest .
Reference Mucalo L , Brandow AM , Dasgupta M , et al . Comorbidities are risk factors for hospitalization and serious COVID-19 illness in children and adults with sickle cell disease . Blood Adv . 2021 ; 5:2717-2724 .
Hematologist / Oncologist
Penn State Health Milton S . Hershey Medical Center Penn State Cancer Institute Hershey , PA
The Division of Hematology / Oncology and Penn State Cancer Institute , Penn State Health Milton S . Hershey Medical Center , associated with the Penn State Hershey Medical School , located in Hershey , Pennsylvania invites applications for faculty positions in hematology / oncology , with focus on malignant hematology ( especially leukemia ) and , if appropriate , stem cell transplantation . Responsibilities include patient care , clinical research , and medical student and house staff education in an ACGME- accredited fellowship program , with appointment at the assistant professor / associate professor level . The candidate will have the opportunity to interact with outstanding clinical , basic science and population science departments at our institution . Penn State Cancer Institute is the only comprehensive cancer center in central PA and provides a robust infrastructure for clinical trials and translational research facilities .
Appropriate candidates must possess an MD , DO , or foreign equivalent and be board certified / eligible in hematology / oncology and completed fellowship training in hematology / oncology at an accredited institution . Candidates must have or be able to acquire a license to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania .
Hershey , PA , offers a great place to live , work , play , learn , and grow a family . Known as the home of the Hershey chocolate bar , Hershey ’ s community is rich in history and diverse in culture . We ’ re conveniently located within a short distance to major cities such as Philadelphia , Pittsburgh , NYC , Baltimore , and Washington DC . We ’ re proud of our community involvement and encourage you to learn more about our organization . The area boasts a reasonable cost of living whether you prefer a quiet suburban setting or thriving city atmosphere rich in theater , arts , and culture .
Interested individuals should forward CV to :
Erica Geist - Physician Recruiter Penn State Health egeist @ pennstatehealth . psu . edu
Salary and academic rank will be commensurate with experience .
Penn State Health is fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff . We believe diversity is unapologetically expressing itself through every person ’ s perspectives and lived experiences . We are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer . All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age , color , disability , gender identity or expression , marital status , national or ethnic origin , political affiliation , race , religion , sex ( including pregnancy ), sexual orientation , veteran status , and family medical or genetic information .
26 ASH Clinical News Month 2021