Haemophilia care in Iraq; a multi-centre study

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Public Health
• Medical Care Quality

Background:

• Haemophilia A and B are inherited bleeding disorders requiring specialized care.
• The World Bleeding Disorders Registry collects data on patient demographics and treatment outcomes.
• Assessing the current level of care is crucial for identifying disparities and improving patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the availability and quality of care for patients with haemophilia A and B in Iraq.
• To identify challenges and limitations in the current healthcare system for haemophilia patients.
• To provide data for improving treatment strategies and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, retrospective analytical study was conducted using data from the World Bleeding Disorders Registry.
• Data from three haemophilia treatment centers in Iraq, collected between March 2018 and March 2021, were analyzed.
• Patient demographics, disease characteristics, bleeding events, and treatment therapies were examined.

Main Results:

• The study included 638 patients (91% with haemophilia A, 8.9% with haemophilia B), with 60.5% having severe disease.
• A high prevalence of bleeding events (1354 total) and haemarthrosis (70.8%) was observed, particularly in severe cases.
• Inhibitor development was noted in 24.3% of tested patients, and prophylactic therapy uptake was suboptimal (58% for haemophilia A, 46% for haemophilia B).

Conclusions:

• Access to essential haemophilia treatments in Iraq is significantly limited.
• Patients experience high bleeding rates and considerable joint damage, indicating inadequate care.
• Urgent interventions are required to enhance treatment accessibility and management for haemophilia patients in the region.