PB1245 - Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric and adult patients with hemophilia

Background: The COVID-19-associated mortality rate of hemophilia patients is similar to that of the general population, but the risk of hospitalization and bleeding is higher. However, the specific impact of this infection on hemophilia patients has not been reported yet.

Aims: In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the infection susceptibility, symptoms, drug use, and social intercourse of patients with hemophilia.

Methods: A survey was distributed to a total of 265 patients with hemophilia [adult (n = 185) and pediatric patients (n = 80)] in the Fujian hemophilia therapeutic center (Fuzhou City, China) during the COVID-19 pandemic, and data were collected between January 2022 and January 2023. The impacts of SARS-CoV-2 infection on hemophilia symptoms, drug use, and social intercourse of these patients were investigated, and the association between the recovery time and disease conditions was explored in infected patients.

Results: During the COVID-19 pandemic, compared with adult patients, pediatric patients had reduced social intercourse and outdoor activities because of the fear of contracting COVID-19 (85.0% vs. 66.5%; P = 0.002). Bleeding events were also significantly fewer in children than in adults (61.2% vs. 81.1%; P = 0.001). The SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was significantly higher in patients living in urban areas than in those living in rural areas (74.3% vs. 53.6%; P < 0.001). The duration of achieving symptomatic recovery from COVID-19 was not significantly associated with hemorrhage, type and classification of hemophilia, presence of inhibitors, complications, and vaccination status.

Conclusion(s): Having COVID-19 infection did not significantly influence the symptoms and treatments in patients with hemophilia. Compared with adults, pediatric patients had significantly fewer bleeding events.