Phenome- and laboratory-wide meta-analyses of sickle cell trait reveal multi-system disease associations.

Sickle cell trait is linked to increased risks of multi-system diseases, including kidney disease, pulmonary embolism, and anemia, with notable sex-specific differences.

• Why it matters: Understanding the broader health impacts of SCT is crucial as it is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for adverse outcomes, yet its full spectrum of effects remains underexplored.
• What they did: Researchers conducted meta-analyses of phenome-wide and laboratory data from over 4,800 individuals with SCT across three large US biobanks, confirming findings with existing studies.
• The result: Findings reveal SCT’s associations with various organ system complications and suggest tailored clinical awareness and reference ranges, especially considering sex-specific differences in disease risks.