Retrospective cohort study finds elevated D-dimer associated with increased hospitalization, blood transfusion, and acute chest syndrome in adults with sickle cell disease.
Key Points
Evaluate the prognostic utility of elevated D-dimer levels in predicting outcomes in hospitalized adults with sickle cell crisis.
Conducted a retrospective cohort study using TriNetX US Collaborative Network data
Included adults aged ≥18 years with sickle cell crisis between 2000 and 2024
Stratified patients into elevated and non-elevated D-dimer groups
Performed propensity score matching for demographics and comorbidities
Analyzed outcomes including hospitalization, blood transfusion, and acute chest syndrome
Elevated D-dimer group had a 40.6% risk of acute chest syndrome vs. 26.7% in non-elevated
Blood transfusion occurred in 47.2% of elevated D-dimer group compared to 33.8%
Hospitalization rate was 88.5% in elevated group vs. 79.9%
VTE occurred in 22.1% of elevated group vs. 15.1%
Mortality was 11.2% in elevated group and 9.1% in non-elevated group