Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of conditions that affect the red blood cells. A person with sickle cell disease has red blood cells that are hard, sticky, and shaped like crescent moons or sickles. People with sickle cell disease often experience intense pain and anemia because of their abnormal red blood cells and may face adverse health outcomes such as a reduced life expectancy.

SCD is one of the most common hereditary disorders in the United States. SCD primarily, although not exclusively, affects African Americans and other Black populations.

The disparities faced by individuals with SCD has made understanding and addressing these disparities a public health priority for the Minnesota Department of Health, the impacted community, and the medical providers who care for these individuals.