
Long Island Reports High Sickle Cell Burden, NYU Study Finds
A NYU School of Global Public Health study of 42,200 sickle cell disease hospitalizations in New York (2009–2022) finds NYC has the most admissions, but Long Island has the highest share (10%) of hospitalizations with a major risk of death and the region incurs the highest total hospital charges. The study also shows rising rates of major severity (13% to 27%) and major mortality risk (3% to 13%), with COVID-19 likely contributing to the surge. Most hospitalized patients were Black (83%), and adults 18–29 accounted for 40%. The authors call for better access to specialists, improved pediatric-to-adult transition, and policy/funding efforts to reduce regional care gaps and emergency department burden.













