Table 1.
Baseline and demographic characteristics of 773 patients
| Variable | Value | |
| Median age, years (range) | 6.5 (range 1.8 to 15.8) | |
| Gender, n (%) | Male | 416 (53.8) |
| Female | 357 (46.2) | |
| Hb SS | 575 (74.4) | |
| Genotype, n (%) | Hb S Beta0 | 10 (1.3) |
| Hb SC | 188 (24.3) | |
| Yes | 47 (6.1) | |
| Coexisting thalassemia, n (%) | No | 671 (86.8) |
| Unknown | 55 (7.1) | |
| Yes | 221 (28.6) | |
| Complications of SCD*, n (%) | No | 419 (54.2) |
| Unknown | 133 (17.2) | |
| Yes | 90 (11.6) | |
| Laboratory abnormalities**, n (%) | No | 528 (68.3) |
| Unknown | 155 (20.1) | |
*Complications of sickle cell disease comprised adenotonsillar hypertrophy, sleep apnea, acute chest syndrome, systolic hypertension, history of dactylitis before the age of 2 years and history of meningoencephalitis: ** Laboratory abnormalities consisted of total hemoglobin below 7.0 g/dL, total leukocyte count above 15 x 109/L in the absence of infection and platelet count above 500 x 109/L