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Physical and mental quality of life in adult patients with haemophilia in Belgium: the impact of financial issues
Author(s) -
Carvalhosa A. M.,
Henrard S.,
Lambert C.,
Hermans C.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
haemophilia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.213
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1365-2516
pISSN - 1351-8216
DOI - 10.1111/hae.12341
Subject(s) - haemophilia , medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , haemophilia b , haemophilia a , population , physical therapy , pediatrics , gerontology , family medicine , environmental health , nursing
Summary In Belgium, where haemophilia affects approximately 1:7000 people (2011), data on patients' quality of life (QoL) is scarce. This project aims to assess physical and mental QoL (P‐QoL and M‐QoL) simultaneously, and to analyse the influence of different variables on these two aspects of QoL. After Ethics Committee approval, we contacted 84 adult haemophilia A ( HA ) and haemophilia B ( HB ) patients, without current inhibitors, on replacement therapy (on‐demand or secondary prophylaxis), regularly followed up at our comprehensive treatment centre. Seventy‐one ( n = 59 HA , n = 12 HB ) replied to our questionnaire, which included the SF 36v2 QoL assessment forms. We analysed two groups of variables: one including variables previously associated with decreased QoL, and another including variables with unclear impact on QoL (e.g. patients' understanding of haemophilia‐related issues, economical concerns). In our population (mean ± SD age: 45.2 ± 14.7 years old), P‐QoL appeared more reduced than M‐QoL. P‐QoL was strongly influenced by the number of arthropathies while M‐QoL was primarily affected by patients' concern of personal costs due to haemophilia. Among this latter group, having knowledge of insurance coverage had a positive impact on M‐QoL. Scores did not depend on haemophilia type. QoL was impaired in our haemophilia patients. A simultaneous assessment of P‐QoL and M‐QoL confirmed the benefit of primary prophylaxis in P‐QoL, while originally pointing out the major burden of patients' concerns and poor understanding of haemophilia‐related economical issues on their M‐QoL. This might become a particularly challenging issue in times of financial crisis.