This month's cover photo shows three-year-old twins Ava and Olivia, who both have sickle cell disease (SCD)-one comforting the other during treatment at Akron Children's Hospital in Akron, Ohio. The sisters were born two months premature and were diagnosed with the disease shortly after birth.

This month's cover photo shows three-year-old twins Ava and Olivia, who both have sickle cell disease-one comforting the other during treatment at Akron Children's Hospital in Akron, Ohio. Photo courtesy of Megan Lancaster.

The most common inherited blood disorder in the United States, SCD affects an estimated 100,000 people, nearly all of whom are black or Hispanic. The disease causes red blood cells to become rigid and to break down prematurely. Consequently, those with SCD can develop anemia and may suffer complications such as acute pain episodes, organ damage, and infections. Patients with the disease have high rates of hospitalization and ED use, and their median age at death is lower than that of the general population.

In this month's CE article, Paula Tanabe and colleagues describe the major SCD-associated complications-as well as the nursing implications of each. They also provide general information and little-known facts about the disease, plus links to resources for clinicians, patients, and caregivers. To learn more, read "Understanding the Complications of Sickle Cell Disease" in this issue.-Diane Szulecki, editor