(Figure 1).
Baseline demographics are shown in Table 1 . Thirty-four (34) participants with SCD and 35 healthy controls met criteria for analysis. We categorized the participants and controls into two age groups (6-12 years and 13-18 years). Control subjects had a significantly higher weight and body mass index (BMI) but not height compared to patients with SCD. Of the 34 participants with SCD, 27 had HbSS and HBSβ0 as their genotype and thus eligible for hydroxyurea at the time of study participation. Only 20 of the 27 patients eligible for hydroxyurea were on it at time of our study. Four participants required a NICU stay for various reasons other than respiratory distress though one was briefly placed on oxygen.