Monitoring joint health in haemophilia: Factors associated with deterioration

Introduction: Joint bleeds in patients with haemophilia may result in haemophilic arthropathy. Monitoring joint health is essential for identifying early signs of deterioration and allows timely adjustment of treatment. Aim: The aim was to describe changes in joint health over 5-10 years follow-up and identify factors associated with joint health deterioration in patients with haemophilia. Methods: A post hoc analysis was performed from previous cohort studies in patients with moderate/severe haemophilia, ≥16 years. Joint health of ankles, knees and elbows was measured with the Haemophilia Joint Health Score (HJHS) from 2006-2008 (T0) to 2011-2016 (T1). Analyses were performed on patient level (ΔHJHS-total) and joint level (ΔHJHS-joint). Deterioration was defined as ΔHJHS-total ≥4 and ΔHJHS-joint ≥2. Results: Sixty-two patients (median age 25, 73% severe haemophilia, median [interquartile range] 0.0 [0.0;2.0] joint bleeds between T0 to T1) were included. After median 8 years, HJHS-total deteriorated in 37% and HJHS-joint in 17%. Ankle joints (31%) showed deterioration more often than elbows (19%) and knees (3%). Deterioration of HJHS-total was only associated with severe haemophilia. Deterioration of HJHS-joint was weakly associated with a lower HJHS at baseline and more self-reported limitations in activities, and strongly with more joint bleeds between T0 and T1 and presence of synovitis. Conclusion: In 37% of patients with moderate/severe haemophilia and low joint bleeding rates, joint health deteriorated over 5-10 years. Ankle and elbow joints showed deterioration most frequently. Factors found in this study help to identify which joints need frequent monitoring in patients with haemophilia with access to early prophylaxis.