Sickle Cell Trait Is Associated with Elevated Risk for Chronic Kidney Disease

Renal disease is a known complication of sickle cell disease. Although sickle cell trait (SCT; i.e., inheritance of one copy of the gene for sickle cell disease) is relatively benign, it is associated with impaired urinary concentrating ability, asymptomatic hematuria, and papillary necrosis. However, whether SCT is associated with substantial reductions in glomerular filtration rates is unclear. Investigators in the U.S. combined five prospective cohort studies to assess chronic kidney disease (CKD; defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/minute/1.73 m²) and albuminuria in 15,975 black patients (1248 with SCT and 14,727 without SCT).

Demographic characteristics varied across the five cohorts (e.g., mean ages, 24–62; women, 54…