Surgery and survival in birth cohorts with severe haemophilia and differences in access to replacement therapy: The Malmö experience

Background Persons with severe haemophilia require lifelong replacement therapy, prophylaxis, to prevent bleeding. Data describing long-term outcomes of prophylactic treatment are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate joint surgery and survival among persons with severe haemophilia with special attention to access to prophylaxis in the early years of life. Methods Eligible participants had severe haemophilia A or B and were treated at the Malmo centre from the 1960s onward. Time from birth until joint surgery was analysed for participants negative for factor inhibitor and alive in 2000. We compared survival among the entire cohort with severe haemophilia treated at the Malmo centre with the general male population of Sweden and a sample of persons with severe haemophilia from the United Kingdom (UK). Results Overall, 167 participants were included, 106 (63.5%) of whom had complete data on joint surgery. Among those born before 1970, 1970-1979 and ≥1980 approximately 37%, 21% and 0% had their first joint surgery by age 30, respectively. There were no second joint surgeries reported in cohorts born ≥1970. Persons with severe haemophilia and negative for HIV treated in Malmo have attained approximately similar survival to that of the general male population in Sweden and live slightly longer than persons with severe haemophilia from the UK. Discussion and conclusion Prophylaxis in Sweden, although costly, has markedly improved survival and joint outcomes for persons with severe haemophilia. This study highlights the importance of early start of replacement therapy to prevent or postpone serious joint damage.