Depression Screening and Primary Care Engagement and Their Association With Socioeconomic Disadvantage Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years With Sickle Cell Disease

Abstract

It is unclear if adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) are screened for depression, since primary care provider (PCP) visits decline with age and socioeconomic disadvantage may impact receipt of care. This 1-year study identified 97% of adolescents with SCD at Nationwide Children's Hospital (NCH) had a PCP. Among those with an NCH PCP (n = 55), 40% saw their PCP and 33% were screened for depression. Socioeconomic disadvantage was not associated with receipt of depression screening (p = 0.55) or PCP care (p = 0.22). While adolescents with SCD often have PCPs, interventions to increase PCP engagement may improve depression identification in this high-risk population.