Abstract
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the associations between joint function, activities of daily living (ADL), and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with hemophilia (PWH). [Subjects and Methods] The knee, ankle, and elbow joints of 31 patients with congenital hemophilia were studied. The conditions of the patients were evaluated on the basis of a questionnaire, joint function measurements, and roentgenography of the affected joints. In the assessment of joint function, knee flexor strength, knee extensor strength, and grip strength as well as the passive ROM of the elbows, knees, and ankles were evaluated. [Results] Twenty-seven patients had severe hemophilia, twenty-nine patients had plural arthropathies, and 60.2% of subjects’ joints showed severe arthropathy. Age significantly correlated with joint function, ADL, and HRQOL, and joint function significantly correlated with ADL and HRQOL. The status of knee arthropathy and ankle arthropathy were significantly related to HRQOL. [Conclusion] Our results suggest that improvement of joint function and arthropathy is necessary to improve the ADL and HRQOL of PWH.
