Impact of first COVID-19 lockdown on paediatric and adult haemophilia patients treated in a French Haemophilia Comprehensive Care Centre

Abstract

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created an unprecedented global health crisis.

Aim: To investigate the impact of the 1^st COVID-19 lockdown on haemophilia patients in terms of symptoms, management, medication adherence, mental health and lifestyle behaviours.

Methods: A prospective cross-sectional phone survey using a two-part questionnaire was conducted in haemophilia patients (adults and children) followed-up in a French Haemophilia Comprehensive Care Centre between May 5, 2020 and June 2, 2020 (CLEO CD study: NCT04390126).

Results: Among 284 haemophilia A or B patients with FVIII or FIX < 40% contacted for the study, 239 (84%) including 183 adults and 56 children participated to the survey. In 81% of children and 78% of adults, bleeding episodes remained unchanged or decreased. Medication adherence was 82.0% in adults and 98.2% in children. Non-adherence concerned haemostatic agents in six patients and analgesics in three. Overall, 67% of adults and 71% of children felt as good as before lockdown. In both adults and children, the three major changes in lifestyle behaviours were: increase in screen time (49% and 57%), decrease in physical activity (43% and 48%), and weight gain (32% and 27%), respectively.

Conclusions: Encouraging results were observed in terms of haemophilia symptoms, medication adherence, and mental health. Conversely, a negative impact was observed on lifestyle behaviours in a cohort of French haemophilia patients during the 1^st lockdown.

Keywords: COVID-19; haemophilia; lifestyle behaviours; lockdown; medication adherence; symptoms.