Racial Inequities Influencing Admission, Disposition and Hospital Outcomes for Sickle Cell Anemia Patients: Insights from the National Inpatient Sample Database

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) significantly impacts diverse racial groups, particularly African American and Hispanic persons, who experience notable disparities in healthcare outcomes. Despite the extensive literature on SCD, studies focusing on in-hospital racial inequities remain limited. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2016 to 2020, identifying adult hospitalizations for SCD. Hospitalizations were categorized by race—White, African-American, Hispanic, and Other, and analyzed for demographic variables, admission types, disposition outcomes, and complications. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression, adjusting for confounders. Results: Of the 1,089,270 identified hospitalizations, 90.31% were African-American. African-American and Hispanic patients exhibited significantly higher non-elective admissions compared to Whites (77.81%). In-hospital mortality was highest among Hispanics (0.82%). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that African-Americans and Others had higher odds of prolonged hospital stays (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 1.30 and 1.20, respectively). African-Americans and Hispanics also had increased risks of in-hospital complications of SCD. Conclusion: This study highlights substantial racial disparities in SCD hospitalizations, with African Americans and Hispanics facing poorer outcomes compared to Whites. Hispanics also demonstrated increased mortality. These findings underscore the need for targeted healthcare interventions to address racial inequities in SCD management and improve outcomes for all affected populations.