Data & Statistics

There is no national registry for persons with sickle cell disease. Newborn screening programs continue to provide us with ongoing statistics regarding the incidence of sickle cell disease and trait in the U.S.

National Statistics

Nationally, it is estimated that more than 80,000 Americans are living with sickle cell disease, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH, 2007).

1 in 375 African Americans are living with sickle cell disease.

1 in 1100 to 1400 Hispanics are living with sickle cell disease.

1 in 58,000 Caucasians are living with sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell trait, the healthy carrier state for sickle cell disease, occurs in approximately 1 in 12, or 8 percent of African Americans.

The sickle gene is also found in people from South and Central America, the Middle East and the Mediterranean.

It is estimated that over two million Americans are sickle cell trait carriers.

Virginia Statistics

• It is estimated that about 3500 African American residents are living with sickle cell disease.
• 1 in 325 African Americans are living with sickle cell disease in Virginia, which is 13% higher than the national average.
• 1 in 12 African Americans identified with sickle cell trait in Virginia.
• Less than 1% identified with sickle cell trait in other ethnic groups.
• Since Virginia added Hemoglobinopathy Screening to its Newborn Testing in July of 1989, on average, 75 newborns have been identified yearly with sickle cell disease.

 

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