Journal of Hematology & Thromboembolic Diseases
Open Access

Abstract

Health – Related Quality of Life Assessment in Filipino Children with Hemophilia Aged 4 To 16 Years in a Tertiary Hospital

Anna Marie D Espaldon and Flerida G Hernandez

Background: Determining how hemophilia and its treatment may affect the quality of life of children with this bleeding disorder is feasible by using hemophilia-specific Quality Of Life (QoL) questionnaire.

Objectives: To determine the health-related QoL of Filipino children with hemophilia treated in a tertiary hospital, specifically to identify the factors that significantly influence the quality of life of these children, and correlate sociodemographic data with patient and parent reported health-related quality of life.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on all children with hemophilia aged 4 to 16 years and their parents who are seen at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital Hemophilia Out-Patient Clinic for follow up care from July to December 2012 using the Haemo-QoL questionnaire for Filipinos.

Results: Fifty one patients were included in the study. Group I showed most impairment in the subscale of Family (43.75 ± 36.8), while Groups II and III showed most impairment in Sports and School subscale (Group II: 58.2 ± 18.77; Group III: 59.27 ± 17.46). Group I showed least impairment in Attitude (6.25 ± 7.60) while Groups II and III had least impairment in Treatment subscale (Group II: 12.5 ± 15.26; Group III: 23.99 ± 11.02). Parents’ scores reflect the same areas of concern with that of the child’s. The total mean TSS in our study is 28.39 ± 4.76, reflecting the good QoL of our patients.

Conclusions: Identifying the areas of impairment among children with hemophilia and their parents can help clinicians address these concerns; improve their understanding of the disease and their quality of life.