What is the carrier frequency of Sickle Cell disease in African Americans?

The carrier frequency of Sickle Cell disease in African Americans is approximately 1 in 10. This statistic reflects the prevalence of the sickle cell trait, which is the heterozygous state of the HBB gene mutation that causes Sickle Cell disease. The higher carrier frequency in individuals of African descent is a result of selective pressures such as malaria, where carrying one copy of the sickle cell gene (sickle cell trait) provides some level of protection against severe malaria, thus allowing the trait to persist in the population.

Understanding the context of this condition is important in genetic counseling, especially when discussing family planning and genetic testing options with patients from populations where the prevalence of the sickle cell trait may be higher.