An observational study of sickle cell disease in Ontario, Canada: healthcare resource utilization and clinical outcomes

Client: IQVIA Solutions Canada Inc.

Project ID: P2022-121 / 2023 0970 330 000

Research Question/Objectives: The client seeks to investigate the true cost burden of sickle cell disease (SCD) to the Canadian healthcare system.

Primary objectives:

• Describe the epidemiology of Ontarians with SCD, including incidence/prevalence, patient demographic & clinical characteristics, mortality.
• Study patient journey in terms of clinical history, treatment patterns and outcomes, healthcare use and costs.
• Assess the association between hemoglobin levels and other hemolytic biomarker on relevant clinical events (e.g., time to event analyses for endorgan damage, mortality, and other outcomes), costs and healthcare utilization.

Secondary objectives:

• Stratify the primary objectives by:
  • Treatment received [such as hydroxyurea (HU) only, HU + transfusions, transfusions-only, transplants, opioids use, erythroid stimulating agents (ESAs), and iron chelation therapy (data availability and sample size permitting)]
  • Patient characteristics/outcomes (such as age)
• Match the study cohort to general population controls to determine the difference in HCRU, costs, BOI and health outcomes.

Results: December 2024