Neighborhood Deprivation and Racial Cohesion are Associated with Reduced
Acute Chest Syndrome Recurrence in Sickle Cell Disease Children
Abstract
Background: Acute chest syndrome (ACS) is the leading cause of death for
children with sickle cell disease (SCD). Recurrent ACS has detrimental
effects on pulmonary health and healthcare costs. Neighborhood
characteristics affect the outcomes of many pediatric chronic diseases,
but their role in SCD is not well investigated. In this study, we
investigated the effects of area-level socioeconomic deprivation and
racial composition on the recurrence of ACS. Study design: We performed
a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of clinical data from a large
pediatric SCD center. Patients’ residential addresses were geocoded and
linked to a composite Area Deprivation Index (ADI) and percent African
American population at the level of Census block groups. The association
of recurrent ACS with neighborhood characteristics was evaluated using
logistic regression analysis. Results: The sample included 709 children
with SCD. Residence in a socioeconomically deprived neighborhood was
associated with 27% less risk of recurrent ACS, and residence in a
predominantly African American neighborhood was associated with 41%
less risk of ACS recurrence. The racial composition explained the
protective effect of living in a high-deprivation area after adjusting
for sociodemographic and clinical covariates. Demographic and clinical
factors associated with recurrent ACS included older age, male gender,
asthma, hydroxyurea use, and chronic transfusion therapy. Conclusions:
This is the first study to report a protective effect of residing in a
predominantly African American community for ACS recurrence. Further
prospective studies are needed to confirm the association and to
understand the mechanisms of such relationship.