Effect of joint range of motion on health-related quality of life in children with hemophilia

Abstract

Background Assessment of quality of life (QOL) in patients with hemophilia is important for the disease outcome. In patients with hemophilia, repeated occurrences of hemarthrosis lead to limitations in range of motion (ROM) of major joints. Objective The aim of this work is to assess joint ROM and detect the presence of limitation of joint ROM in patients with hemophilia and their effect on the QOL in these patients. Patients and methods The study included 25 children with hemophilia recruited from Pediatric Hematology Unit, Fayoum University Hospital, during the period from June 2016 to December 2016. Their ages ranged between 4 and 16 years. Large joint examination and measurement of joint ROM were done at rheumatology clinic using goniometry by rheumatologist. QOL was assessed by using the hemophilia QOL questionnaire. Results The most impaired dimensions of QOL were family, treatment, and physical domains. Total health-related quality of life (HRQOL) score, physical health, view of self, and sport and school scores were found worse with increasing age. Patients who had target joints had poor QOL score. Limitation of movement (LOM) of the knee and ankle joints mainly impaired the physical and social aspects and the overall HRQOL, and LOM of shoulder joint impaired the treatment domain. Conclusion Age of the patient was found a factor affecting the total HRQOL score, in addition to physical, view of self, and sport and school dimensions. LOM of the knee and ankle joints mainly impaired physical and social aspects and the overall HRQOL.

Keywords

• hemophilia
• joint limitation
• quality of life
• range of motion