# Clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with sickle cell disease in French Guiana

## TL;DR

This study examines how patients with sickle cell disease in French Guiana fared during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Contribution

It provides clinical insights into the severity and outcomes of COVID-19 in sickle cell patients in a specific geographic region.

## Key findings

- Most patients had mild to moderate symptoms and favorable outcomes.
- Two deaths occurred, both in patients with the SS phenotype and severe pneumonitis.
- Hospitalizations were primarily due to respiratory illness and vaso-occlusive crises.

## Abstract

French Guiana also suffered concrete epidemiological consequences of the SARS-CoV2 epidemic. These regions are home to a large number of sickle cell patients who are at risk of developing severe forms of COVID-19. This study aimed to describe the characteristics and prognosis of patients with sickle disease infected with SARS-CoV2 during the first and second epidemic waves of 2020 in French Guiana.

We conducted a multicenter, retrospective cohort study that included sickle cell patients followed up in French Guiana.

Among the 79 patients infected with SARS-CoV2, there were 26 children <18 years. Forty-two patients were hospitalized and 37 were outpatients. Respiratory illness (38 %), vaso-occlusive crises (18 %), and acute chest syndrome (8 %) were the main causes of hospitalization. There were two cases of pulmonary embolism and one case of deep limb thrombosis. Seven patients were transferred to the ICU. Of these, three received mechanical ventilation, and two died. The deceased patients had the SS phenotype (a 16-year-old boy and a 32-year-old man), both of whom exhibited severe pneumonitis complicated by COVID-19.

Despite the two deaths, the overall outcome was favorable.

•Overall outcomes were favorable.•The manifestation of COVID-19 in our study population was mild to moderate.•Patients with the SC genotype also had a favorable outcome.

Overall outcomes were favorable.

The manifestation of COVID-19 in our study population was mild to moderate.

Patients with the SC genotype also had a favorable outcome.