Physical activity for people with sickle cell anemia. Systematic Review

• Grant number: 24/13806-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2024
• End date: October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Rachel Riera
• Grantee: Matheus Aparecido de Toledo
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

According to estimates by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) in 2021, approximately 7.74 million individuals worldwide were living with sickle cell anemia. The prevalence of the disease varies considerably between countries. Characterized by high morbidity, sickle cell anemia in Brazil has a life expectancy for patients of approximately 30 to 32 years. This figure is significantly below the life expectancy of the general population in the country, estimated at around 75.5 years.Pain crises, resulting from veno-occlusive episodes, are an important aspect to be considered in the clinical picture of sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell anemia is related to several serious complications, which often require prolonged and repeated hospitalizations, generating high costs and compromising patients' quality of life.The pharmacological therapies currently available for sickle cell anemia are not curative, but seek to reduce the risk of veno-occlusive episodes, as well as minimize their duration and severity. Care strategies for patients with sickle cell anemia include nutritional guidelines and maintaining physical and mental health. Although physical activity is widely recognized as beneficial for general health, there is still no consensus in the scientific literature on the effects of physical activity on people with sickle cell anemia.Therefore, a systematic literature review will be carried out to map, critically appraise and synthesize the evidence on the efficacy and safety of any physical activity for people with sickle cell anemia. The protocol for this review will be registered prospectively on the PROSPERO database and the recommendations of the Cochrane Handbook for Reviews of Interventions will be followed for planning and conducting the review. The report will be prepared in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA 2020).