Quality of life related with health in adults with hemophilia from a health program in Medellín, Colombia

Abstract

Objective: To determine the quality of life related to health in adults with hemophilia affiliated with a coagulopathic disorders program and to explore its association with clinical and demographic factors. Design: A cross sectional and descriptive study was performed. The hemophilia-specific quality of life questionnaire in Latin America (Hemolatin-QoL) was applied to all hemophilia patients at a specialized clinic in Medellín (Colombia). Descriptive statistical measures were used, and the factors associated with the different dimensions of quality of life were evaluated using the Kruskall-Wallis test and the Spearman correlation coefficient. Results: Forty-eight adults were included, with a median age of 32 years old (RI: 23.2-40.7). The population varied in the severity of hemophilia (16.7% mild, 12.5% moderate, and 70.8% severe) and in treatment (75% prophylaxis, 22.9% demand and 2.1% immunotolerance.), 37.5% had reduced mobility, while 16.7% suffered from comorbidity. The total Hemolatin-Qol score was 81.5. The factors associated with lower quality of life were: older age, number of comorbidities, low socioeconomic level, presence of arthropathy and reduced mobility. Conclusions: The quality of life scores obtained by the study were close to the maximum possible score of the questionnaire. The factors associated with quality of life are similar to those found in other populations and are related to economic difficulties, other diseases and disability. Further longitudinal studies with a larger sample are necessary to establish causal associations.

Keywords

• adult
• hemophilia a
• hemophilia b
• latin america
• quality of life