Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease: Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of patients and families with sickle cell disease.

Socioeconomic data on 3538 black patients enrolled in the Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease (CSSCD) from 1979 to 1981 are summarized and compared with the U.S. black population (USBP) where appropriate. The following contrasts between the patients and families with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and the USBP were found: family structure differed, with fewer two-parent families (40 vs 54%) and more single female heads-of-household (53 vs 42%) within the SCD population; of those employed, twice as many of the SCD patients of both sexes worked in white collar positions; a higher percentage of patients were unemployed and disabled; and male SCD patients had a lower median personal income than USBP males. Several similarities were also noted: the percentage of high school graduates was 71% for SCD patients and 75% for the USBP; female heads-of-household employed full time earned approximately the same salary as USBP females. These data will help health professionals who counsel SCD patients and their families.