Abstract
Background: Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) have higher resting
basal metabolic rates than healthy peers and have historically been
underweight. Current treatments increase patients’ hemoglobin (Hb) level
and decrease reticulocytosis, which may in turn decrease patients’ basal
metabolic rates. Objective: To examine the rates of overweight and
obesity in children with SCD compared to state and national norms and to
assess the correlation between Hb and weight status. Methods: We
conducted a retrospective chart review of patients with SCD between the
ages of 2-19 years from October 2013 until April 2019. Data were
collected from the most recent clinic visit and Body Mass Index (BMI)
percentiles were calculated using Center for Disease Control growth
charts. Mississippi and national weight status estimates for youth 10-17
years were obtained from the 2016-2017 National Survey of Children’s
Health. Results: Data were available for 787 patients. For children
10-17 years (n = 480), 24.5% of patients were overweight/obese compared
to Mississippi and national rates, 39.2% and 31%, respectively. The
prevalence of 10-17 year olds who were overweight (12.7%) was not
significantly different from Mississippi (13.1%) or national (15.2%)
(p = 0.13). Hb were different among patients who were underweight
(8.80g/dL), normal weight (9.2g/dL), and overweight/obese (10.5g/dL) (p
< 0.001). Conclusions: Children with SCD in Mississippi have
similar rates of overweight compared to state and national norms and
have higher Hb than patients with SCD who are normal weight/underweight.
The impact of increased BMI in SCD is unknown and additional
longitudinal studies are needed.