Background and objectives Treatment availability and comprehensive care have resulted in improved clinical outcomes for persons with hemophilia. Recent data on socioeconomic participation in the... Show moreBackground and objectives Treatment availability and comprehensive care have resulted in improved clinical outcomes for persons with hemophilia. Recent data on socioeconomic participation in the Netherlands are lacking. This study assessed participation in education, in the labor market, and social participation for persons with hemophilia compared with the general male population. Methods Dutch adults and children (5-75 years) of all hemophilia severities (n = 1009) participated in a questionnaire study that included sociodemographic, occupational, and educational variables. Clinical characteristics were extracted from electronic medical records. General population data were extracted from Statistics Netherlands. Social participation was assessed with the PROMIS Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities short form, with a minimal important difference set at 1.0. Results Data from 906 adults and children were analyzed. Participation in education of 20 to 24 year olds was 68% (general male population: 53%). Educational attainment was higher compared with Dutch males, especially for severe hemophilia. Absenteeism from school was more common than in the general population. The employment-to-population ratio and occupational disability were worse for severe hemophilia than in the general population (64.3% vs. 73.2% and 14.7% vs. 4.8%, respectively), but similar for nonsevere hemophilia. Unemployment was 5.4% (general male population: 3.4%). Absenteeism from work was less common (38% vs. 45.2%). Mean PROMIS score was similar to or higher than in the general population (54.2; SD 8.9 vs. 50; SD 10). Conclusion Socioeconomic participation of persons with nonsevere hemophilia was similar to the general male population. Some participation outcomes for persons with severe hemophilia were reduced. Show less
Introduction The negative impact of haemophilia on social participation is well established in previous studies, however, the impact of Von Willebrand disease (VWD) on social participation has not... Show moreIntroduction The negative impact of haemophilia on social participation is well established in previous studies, however, the impact of Von Willebrand disease (VWD) on social participation has not been studied. Aim To compare the social participation of a large cohort of VWD patients in the Netherlands with the general Dutch population. In addition, to identify factors associated with social participation in VWD. Methods Patients participating in the "Willebrand in the Netherlands" study completed an extensive questionnaire on educational level, absenteeism from school or work, and occupational disabilities. Results Seven-hundred and eighty-eight VWD patients were included (mean age 38.9 years, 59.5% females), of whom 136 children < 16 years. Adult patients with type 3 VWD more often had a low educational level (52.9%) compared to type 1 (40.2%), type 2 VWD (36.8%) and the general population (36.4%) (p = .005). Moreover, in patients aged >= 16 years the days lost from school and/or work in the year prior to study inclusion differed significantly between the VWD types (p = .011). Using negative binomial regression analysis, the occurrence of bleeding episodes requiring treatment in the year preceding study inclusion was significantly associated with the number of days lost from school and/or work among patients aged >= 16 years. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that a higher total bleeding score, older age and presence of at least one comorbidity were significantly associated with occupational disability in patients aged >= 16 years. Conclusion Our study shows that social participation was lower in type 3 VWD and VWD patients with a more severe bleeding phenotype. Show less
