Climate change and red blood cell disorders: A review of risks and adaptations for pregnant women and children.

Climate change is increasingly impacting global health, particularly for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children with red blood cell (RBC) disorders. These disorders, including sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and anemia, compromise the body's ability to transport oxygen and are exacerbated by climate-induced environmental changes. This review evaluates the risks posed by climate change to individuals with RBC disorders, highlighting empirical data on the exacerbation of health complications and the effectiveness of adaptation strategies. Pregnant women with sickle cell disease, for instance, face a 34% higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth and stillbirth, due to climate-induced heat stress and dehydration. Similarly, children with anemia experience a 25% increase in hospital admissions for heat-related illnesses during heatwaves, and malaria transmission, which extends by up to 60 days annually in some regions, further aggravates anemia in these populations. The effects of climate change on air quality and food security also pose significant risks for individuals with RBC disorders. Poor air quality, exacerbated by rising temperatures, has been shown to increase the frequency of vaso-occlusive crises in children with sickle cell disease by 30% in highly polluted areas. Additionally, climate change impacts on food security, as evidenced by a study in Ethiopia, where 41% of pregnant women with anemia also faced food insecurity, worsen nutritional deficiencies and anemia. These environmental factors, combined with the increased incidence of climate-sensitive infectious diseases such as malaria, highlight the urgent need for targeted adaptation strategies to mitigate the compounded health risks.

Copyright © 2025 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.