Hydroxyurea is a recommended treatment for sickle cell anemia (SCA), yet its long-term benefits have not been thoroughly examined. To address this gap, a study has evaluated the effects of long-term hydroxyurea use in 2,147 children with SCA. The study found that hydroxyurea use was linked to fewer annual emergency department (ED) visits (average treatment effect on the treated [ATT]: -0.36 visits/year) and fewer hospital days (ATT: -0.84 days/year).
These benefits were sustained over time. Additionally, hydroxyurea increased hemoglobin levels (ATT: 0.56 g/dL), though this improvement was maintained only in children who consistently adhered to the treatment. These findings highlight the sustained clinical benefits of hydroxyurea in reducing ED visits and…
