Impact of Environmental Tobacco Smoke on Children With Sickle Cell Disease

Abstract

Children with SCD who are exposed to ETS have a higher risk of sickle cell crises requiring hospitalization than do those not exposed, independent of other factors known to increase the frequency of sickle cell crises. Decreasing the exposure of these children to ETS could reduce morbidity and may provide cost savings.

Secondhand Smoke Is an Important Modifiable Risk Factor in Sickle Cell Disease: A Review of the Current Literature and Areas for Future Research

“…In conclusion, several studies have demonstrated an association between TSE and more frequent hospitalizations and ED visits for pain and acute chest syndrome in SCD [8,9,10,11,12]. Several other studies have suggested other negative impacts related to TSE in SCD, as cited throughout this paper, and one paper has described an increased risk of mortality in adults with SCD who are smokers [58].…”

“…Most pediatric studies have focused on secondhand exposures [9,10,11,13], and only one study has described the prevalence and ill effects of secondhand smoke in adults with SCD [8]. Three adult studies in SCD have focused on the prevalence and/or health consequences of smoking tobacco [8,12,18], and the remainder of the studies of adult SCD patients that we identified included tobacco use as a predictor/variable.…”

Risk Factors for Increased ED Utilization in a Multinational Cohort of Children With Sickle Cell Disease

“…The presence of a household tobacco smoker was associated with a 73% increase in acute chest syndrome events when compared to those that did not have household exposure. There are strong data regarding the association between environmental tobacco smoke and increased asthma morbidity, 34–37 and there are emerging data about its association with SCD morbidity 38,39 . These data strengthen the evidence that environmental tobacco smoke is associated with SCD morbidity, particularly lung disease.…”

Preliminary exploration of secondhand smoke exposure in youth with Sickle Cell Disease: biochemical verification, pulmonary functioning, and health care utilization

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