The Daily PulseScience & Environment
CSIR-CCMB researchers build new tool to predict sickle cell severity in India
Reported by Ishita Mukherjee (Staff Writer) · The Hindu - Science ·
Reported by one source so far
Representative image · Wikimedia CommonsScientists at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology in Hyderabad have developed a new India-specific severity score for sickle cell anaemia to improve treatment decisions for local patients.
The New Scoring Tool
Researchers analysed the medical records of 171 children aged up to 18 years who received treatment at the Government Medical College and Hospital in Nagpur. The study was led by physician-scientist Giriraj R. Chandak alongside Suraj S. Nongmaithem, Amitabh Biswas, Swaroop Iyer, Jandhayala Vyshnavi, Archana Wath, and Dipty Jain. The team found that existing international scoring systems like the Paediatric Severity Score matched expert clinical assessments in only about 67 percent of cases because Indian patients often show different disease patterns compared to African and Western populations.
Model Improvements
The scientists created a revised model named 'ISS1' by adding four clinical features commonly seen in Indian patients, which improved clinical assessments to nearly 83 percent accuracy. A second version called 'ISS2' replaced laboratory measurements with easily observable clinical indicators to achieve an overall accuracy of about 85 percent. This second version correctly identified all patients in the mild category and improved performance for moderate cases without requiring many laboratory tests. Dr. Chandak stated that the new scoring systems will help doctors make quicker and more informed decisions about treatments including the use and dosage of hydroxyurea.
Context
Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited blood disorder caused by a single genetic mutation in the beta globin gene, leading to abnormal red blood cells and severe health complications. India carries one of the highest burdens of this condition globally, making population-specific diagnostic and management tools essential for effective healthcare delivery.
ExplainerWhy this matters
What Happened
Researchers at CSIR-CCMB developed the India-specific Severity Score versions ISS1 and ISS2 to better assess sickle cell anaemia in Indian patients. The existing international Paediatric Severity Score failed to accurately reflect the local clinical profile because Indian patients exhibit distinct disease patterns and higher levels of foetal haemoglobin.
Why It Matters
Accurate disease severity scoring is crucial for deciding timely treatments, such as managing the dosage of hydroxyurea and preparing targeted care strategies. Relying on foreign scoring models leads to misclassifications, whereas tools tailored to the local population help clinicians manage hospital admissions and plan interventions more effectively without unnecessary lab tests.
What Happens Next
The new scoring tool requires further validation in larger and more diverse populations before it can be adopted widely across different healthcare settings. Researchers note that broader clinical trials and implementation studies will determine its readiness for routine nationwide deployment.
