Functional evaluation of joint in moderate to severe hemophilia patients treated with on-demand factor replacement: insights from a single hemophilia treatment center in Bangladesh

Abstract

BackgroundHemophilia patients are prone to spontaneous or post-traumatic bleeding, particularly in joints and various other body sites. The high incidence of joint hemorrhages in hemophilia patients underscores the importance of routine joint assessments in clinical care to monitor the condition and evaluate the efficacy of hemophilia treatments.AimThis study aimed to assess the joint health of hemophilia patients receiving FVIII or FIX on-demand replacement therapy treatment at a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh.MethodsThis single-center study involved 93 patients diagnosed with moderate (n = 72;77.4%) and severe (n = 21;22.6%) hemophilia. The assessment of joint health was carried out on six key joints—both elbows, knees, and ankles—using the Hemophilia Joint Health Score (HJHS) version 2.1. Clinical and laboratory data were meticulously documented in a structured questionnaire.ResultsAmong the 93 hemophilic patients, the majority had hemophilia A (96.8%). The median HJHS of the patients was 15 (IQR:9.5–20) with the knee joint being mostly affected (88.2%). A significant positive correlation was observed between HJHS and age (r = 0.385, p < 0.001) and total number of joints involved (r = 0.405, p < 0.001). No significant association was found between factor level, education status, and socio-economic status with HJHS score.ConclusionEarly assessment and monitoring of joint health are essential in clinical practice to prevent severe complications in hemophilia patients.