The Challenges and Opportunities Associated with Sickle Cell Disease Prevention, Education, and Management

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary blood disorder affecting the shape of the red blood cells that block blood vessels leading to organ damage and frequent erratic painful episodes. SCD is a global public health issue affecting millions of people throughout the world. This article explores (a) what SCD is; (b) the physical and psychosocial impacts of the disease;

A Primer on Economic Evaluations Related to Expansion of Newborn Screening for Genetic and Metabolic Disorders

Newborns in every state are screened for genetic/metabolic disorders, but there is no uniform national screening program. Recently, a federal panel concluded that the number of disorders screened should be increased from 9 to Twenty-nine. In order for state leaders, and for the clinicians who inform them, to make sound decisions about expanding newborn screening programs, they need to be aware of the costs and outcomes of the entire screening program. This paper examines newborn screening from several perspectives: status of state programs, screening technology, and financing. In addition, various types of economic evaluations are defined, and a number of economic studies are explored.