New Study Reveals Sickle Cell Trait Does Not Cause Exertion-Related Death
The National Medical Association’s President-Elect Illustrates Profound Data
(SILVER SPRING, MD. – Feb. 5, 2025) Roger A. Mitchell, Jr., MD, president-elect of the National Medical Association (NMA), co-authors new research released by the American Society of Hematology (ASH) that reveals sickle cell trait (SCT) does not lead to sudden exertion-related death. SCT or sickle cell disease (SCD) is often considered the cause of exertion-related deaths, which has erroneously led to reports detailing SCD as causes of death of various athletes, military personnel and victims of police brutality.
ASH convened expert medical professionals, particularly forensic pathologists and hematologists, to systematically review all existing available research to determine if uncomplicated acute pain crises occur in people with SCT and if physical activity above baseline results in sudden death among those individuals. During this review, there was no evidence that supports acute pain crises in individuals with SCT. Additionally, there is no evidence that proves SCT as a cause of exertion-related death without rhabdomyolysis, or muscle breakdown. Black Americans make up 90 percent of those diagnosed with SCT.
“For too long, we have allowed forensic pathology to deem sickle cell trait as a cause of sudden death for Black people in altercation with law enforcement,” Dr. Mitchell said. “Certifying sickle cell trait as a primary cause of sudden death is harmful and is not supported by the current hematology research.”
Dr. Mitchell is also the co-author of “Death in Custody,” an informational book detailing a variety of deaths that occurred at the hands of law enforcement. Themes in the book include the longstanding history of reporting inaccurate causes of deaths and the lack of death tracking among Black people in the U.S. To this day, we are unaware of how many people die in police custody. For more information, review the Death In Custody fact sheet on the NMA website.
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About the National Medical Association:
The NMA is the nation’s oldest and largest organization representing Black physicians and
health professionals in the U.S. and promotes the collective interests of physicians and patients of African descent. We serve as the voice of Black physicians and a leading voice for parity in medicine, elimination of health disparities and promotion of optimal health. To learn more about the NMA, please visit https://www.nmanet.org/.
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