Bone mineral density in haemophilia patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

With the increase in life expectancy of haemophilia patients (PWH), the risk of osteoporosis increases, but there is little research on whether haemophilia is the cause of osteoporosis.

To conduct systematically review whether bone mineral density (BMD) in PWH decreased and the factors affecting BMD.

Two authors independently searched databases and reviewed citations from relevant articles, selecting studies published in any language and performed in humans before March 2023. Eligibility criteria were observational studies in PWH, with BMD as at least one outcome other than osteoporosis or bone loss, and analyses in a group of PWH and healthy controls.

Twelve studies were ultimately identified, consisting of 1210 individuals (534 PWH and 676 healthy controls), compared with the control group, BMD in PWH decreased by 0.13 g/cm² [95% confidence interval (CI) -0.18 to -0.08, I²  = 89%]. No evidence of publication bias was detected. There was no evidence that age, BMI, level of physical activity, the types of haemophilia, haemophilia severity, a blood-borne virus (HCV) and treatment modality predicted the BMD in PWH.

The results indicate that BMD in PWH is lower than in healthy controls. Therefore, we strongly recommend PWH early measurement of BMD to prevent osteoporosis.