The Association of Hemophilia Related Joint Problems, Healthcare Resource Usage, and Patient Adherence to Prophylactic Treatment: Results From a Multinational Real-World Survey

OBJECTIVES: This study explored the impact of joint problems on treatment adherence and health care resource usage (HCRU), including joint therapy usage in people with haemophilia.

METHODS: Data were drawn from the Adelphi Real World Disease Specific Programme™, a cross-sectional survey with retrospective data collection of physicians and male haemophilia A (HA) and B (HB) patients in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom (September 2023-April 2024). Physicians reported data on patient joint damage, treatment adherence, hospitalisations, and therapy usage. Analyses were descriptive.

RESULTS: This study included 235 physicians providing data for 1077 patients, (78% HA, 22% HB); 45% were patients with joint problems (JP) and 55% were patients that have never had joint problems (NJP). Mean [standard deviation] age was 27.9 [15.5] years (JP: 32.8 [15.5], NJP: 24.0 [14.5]).

Physicians reported 52% of JP and 62% NJP were completely adherent to their prophylaxis treatment. Physicians reported 11% JP and 4% NJP had at least one hospitalisation in the 12 months prior to survey. Overall, physicians reported HCRU associated with joint health in 56% JP and 29% NJP, with physical therapy most commonly reported (JP: 46%, NJP: 21%). Physicians reported 29% of JP previously required joint surgery, compared to 3% of NJP. 31% of JP and 3% of NJP, in 12 months or more, would likely require future joint surgery due to haemophilic joint damage as reported by physicians.

CONCLUSIONS: Physicians reported nearly a half of JP were not adherent to their prophylactic treatment. High HCRU burden was reported for JP, highlighting increased physical and economic burden for these patients. This indicates a need for future therapies that can address suboptimal adherence to treatment and improve joint health, potentially reducing the HCRU burden. These findings highlight a need for future research to further improve understanding of this disease area.