Data & Statistics

Data & Statistics

There is no national registry for persons with sickle cell disease. Newborn screening programs continue to provide us with ongoing statistics regarding the incidence of sickle cell disease and trait in the U.S.

National Statistics

Nationally, it is estimated that 70,000 - 100,000 Americans are living with sickle cell disease, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH, 2011).

• 1 in 500 African Americans are living with sickle cell disease.
• 1 in 36,000 Hispanic Americans are born with sickle cell disease.
• Sickle cell trait, the healthy carrier state for sickle cell disease, occurs in approximately 1 in 12 African Americans.
• It is estimated that over two million Americans are sickle cell trait carriers.

Virginia Statistics

• It is estimated that 2,500 - 4,500 African American residents are living with sickle cell disease.
• 1 in 325 African Americans are living with sickle cell disease in Virginia.
• 1 in 12 African Americans have the sickle cell trait in Virginia.
• Since Virginia added Hemoglobinopathy Screening to its Newborn Testing in July of 1989, on average, 75 newborns have been identified yearly with sickle cell disease.