The impact of haemophilia on the social status and the health-related quality of life in adult Lebanese persons with haemophilia.

INTRODUCTION: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) studies are increasingly needed to prevent and improve the medical care of persons with haemophilia (PWH).

AIM: We assessed the impact of haemophilia on HRQoL and social status of adult Lebanese PWH compared to a reference population.

METHODS: In this case-control study, 60 severe and moderate PWH were compared to 112 healthy controls. Detailed socio-demographic data and disease characteristics were collected, and HRQoL was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire.

RESULTS: Age, body mass index and the percentage of married people were similar in PWH and controls. A greater proportion of controls attained a higher educational level than cases (88.4% vs 59.3%, respectively, P < 0.001). PWH were more likely to have a job requiring physical activity than controls (55.9% vs 31.4%) and more likely to be unemployed (10.2% vs 1.0%), whereas more controls had higher socio-economic jobs (10.5% vs 1.7%). PWH had significantly (P < 0.001) worse scores in all SF-36 domains except for energy/fatigue. Affected targeted joints (2.7 ± 1.5) and monthly bleeding frequency (2.9 ± 2.4) were inversely correlated with almost all SF-36 domains. Only 26.7% of PWH walk normally, and walking abnormalities were inversely correlated with all SF-36 domains except role-emotional and emotional well-being.

CONCLUSION: As compared with controls, the majority of Lebanese PWH has difficulties in social integration, has severe physical limitations and psychological impairments.