Better mental health is associated with better adherence to prophylactic treatment in hemophilia, according to a new study published in Haemophilia. The study, “Adherence to Clotting Factor Prophylaxis in Adolescent and Adult Males With Haemophilia,” examined 78 adolescent and adult males in Brazil to identify factors most strongly linked to adherence.
Hemophilia refers to disorders marked by low levels of proteins needed for blood to clot, specifically clotting factor VIII in hemophilia A and factor IX in hemophilia B. Standard prophylactic treatment involves factor replacement therapies, in which a functional version of the deficient protein is routinely administered into the bloodstream to help normalize clotting and prevent bleeds. These replacement therapies require regular infusions, which can be burdensome and require consistent adherence to be effective.
Study Results and Key Findings
All participants completed the Validated Hemophilia Regimen Treatment Adherence Scale-Prophylaxis (VERITAS-Pro) questionnaire, a standardized adherence assessment. Based on this questionnaire, 90% of participants were classified as adherent, while the remaining 10% were not. Statistical analyses identified variables significantly associated with adherence: better mental health scores, having hemophilia A compared with hemophilia B, and receiving infusions more than twice weekly. Participants who had been on prophylaxis for longer were less likely to be adherent.
Implications for Clinical Care
The researchers concluded that “the main determinants of clotting factor prophylaxis adherence were having hemophilia A, infusing factor more than twice weekly, having a shorter duration of prophylaxis, and a good mental health.” The findings highlight the importance of addressing mental health and psychosocial needs in hemophilia care, underscoring the need for clinicians to address not only clinical but also psychosocial aspects of care given their direct impact on treatment engagement. The researchers noted that further studies are needed to confirm and expand upon these findings.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://hemophilianewstoday.com/news/better-mental-health-linked-treatment-adherence-hemophilia/