Adherence to prophylactic treatment in patients with haemophilia in Germany

Adherence to prophylactic treatment in haemophilia is important for patient outcome.

This study analysed the influence of potential impact factors on adherence assessed through the application of the German translation of the VERITAS-Pro questionnaire.

All members of the German haemophilia patient organisation (DHG) who suffer from severe or moderate haemophilia and are on continuous prophylactic treatment were asked to complete the VERITAS-Pro questionnaire. Further questions were added regarding the patients' age, severity of haemophilia, type A or B, frequency of prophylaxis, pain level, factor application self or non-self and co-morbidities.

Responses of 397 patients on continuous prophylactic treatment, 0-80 years old, were analysed according to several age groups: 0-14, 15-19, 20-59 (20-29 and 30-39) and ≥60 years of age. The mean total VERITAS-Pro score for the whole sample was 36.7 ± 11.7 (range of 24-86). The scores were significantly higher, indicating the poorest adherence, in patients between 20 and 59 years of age (41.1 ± 11.7) compared with the other age groups (30.0-35.7). Adherence to treatment was highest in patients between 0 and 14 years of age in all subscales of the VERITAS-Pro. The following potential risk factors for non-adherence were evaluated in all age groups: organisation suffering (care by a haemophilia centre), severity and type of haemophilia, factor concentrate administration and the presence of co-morbidities.

The identification of significant differences between age groups in special subscales of adherence and impact factors offers tailored starting points for improvements of adherence to prophylactic treatment.