Introduction Haemophilia has been associated with low bone mineral density (BMD). However, prior clinical studies of this population have neither clearly elucidated risk factors for development of low BMD nor identified who may warrant screening for osteoporosis. Aim To evaluate the relationship between BMD and hemophilic arthropathy and other demographic and clinical variables. Methods We undertook a cross-section study of BMD in adult men with haemophilia. Measures of predictor variables were collected by radiographic studies, physical examination, patient questionnaires, and review of medical records. Results Among 88 enrolled subjects, the median age was 41 years (IQR: 20); median femoral neck BMD (n=87) was 0.90 g/cm2 (IQR 0.24); and median radiographic joint score was 7.5 (IQR 18). Among subjects <50 years (n=62), after controlling for BMI, alcohol, HIV, and White race, BMD decreased as radiographic joint score increased (est.β=−0.006 mg/cm2; 95%CI −0.009, −0.003; partial R2=0.23). Among subjects ≥ 50 years (n=26), 38% had osteoporosis (T score ≤−2.5) and there was no association between BMD and arthropathy. Conclusion Risk factors for low BMD in men with haemophilia < 50 years include hemophilic arthropathy, low or normal BMI, and HIV. Men with haemophilia over age 50 years should have routine screening for detection of osteoporosis.

Physical activity and functional ability are important determinants of quality of life and these metrics are affected by both haemophilia and ageing. Outside haemophilic arthropathy, risk factors leading to reduced physical activity and function in people with haemophilia (PWH) are under-explored. The purpose of this analysis was to determine risk factors for reduced physical activity and functional limitations in PWH. A secondary analysis was conducted on data indexing physical activity and functioning of 88 PWH using data originally collected as part of a cross-sectional study at a single large haemophilia treatment centre. The Framingham Physical Activities Index (PAI), the Hemophilia Activities List (HAL) and the Timed Up-and-Go Test (TUG) were the outcome measures. The World Federation of Haemophilia (WFH) orthopaedic joint score was used as a measure of arthropathy. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between the outcome measures and covariates. Worsening WFH joint score was independently associated with all three outcome measures (P < 0.05). Increasing age was associated with reduced PAI and increased TUG time (P < 0.05). The HAL summary score was decreased in patients with chronic liver disease (P = 0.006). The adjusted R(2) for each model was ≤ 0.35. This study provides evidence for the relationship between arthropathy and reduced physical functioning/activity, but also highlights that much of the variation in physical functioning/activity is not explained by haemophilia-related characteristics.

Summary Background Immune tolerance induction (ITI) in patients with congenital hemophilia A is successful in up to 70%. Although there is growing understanding of predictors of response to ITI, the probability and predictors of inhibitor recurrence following successful ITI are not well understood. Objectives To determine the association of clinical characteristics, particularly adherence to FVIII prophylaxis following ITI, with inhibitor recurrence in patients with hemophilia A who were considered tolerant following ITI. Methods In this multicenter retrospective cohort study, 64 subjects with FVIII level <2% who were considered successfully tolerant following ITI were analyzed to estimate the cumulative probability of inhibitor recurrence using the Kaplan-Meier method. The association of clinical characteristics with inhibitor recurrence was assessed using logistic regression. Results A recurrent inhibitor titer ≥ 0.6 BU/ml occurred at least once in 19 (29.7%) and more than once in 12 (18.8%). The probability of any recurrent inhibitor at 1 and 5 years was 12.8% and 32.5% respectively. Having a recurrent inhibitor was associated with having received immune modulation during ITI (OR 3.8, 95% CI: 1.2-22.4) and FVIII recovery of <85% at the end of ITI (OR 2.6, 95% CI: 1.3-5.9), but was not associated with adherence to post-ITI prophylactic FVIII infusion (OR=0.5, 95% CI: 0.06-4.3). Conclusions The use of immune modulation therapy during ITI and lower FVIII recovery at the end of ITI appear to be associated with an increased risk of inhibitor recurrence following successful ITI. Adherence to post-ITI prophylactic FVIII infusions is not a major determinant of recurrence.

Distress among patients with congenital bleeding disorders followed at a comprehensive HTC was high and similar to that reported among patients with cancer. Future research should determine whether distress impacts clinical outcomes in patients with bleeding disorders as demonstrated in other chronic disorders.

Distress effects are widely examined in cross-sectional studies with less known about effects on future health. This review summarizes distress impacts on health among adults in prospective studies and describes available distress measurement tools. Four inter-disciplinary databases were searched. Effects of distress on mortality and other outcomes were reviewed and estimated in a meta-analysis. A total of 19 studies were assessed which incorporated 10 distress tools. Distress had a detrimental effect on health regardless of the population studied, distress tool used, and health outcome examined. There was an increased mortality risk among those reporting high versus low distress (pooled hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) = 1.29 (1.15–1.46)).