Haemophilia-Related Pain: A Bibliometric and Content Analysis of Research Trends and Key Themes

Haemophilia is a chronic bleeding disorder causing joint disease and pain, impacting quality of life (QoL) and function. Despite treatment advances, pain management remains challenging. This study uses bibliometric and content analysis to explore research trends, key themes and gaps.

To analyse the research landscape on pain in haemophilia by identifying key themes, trends, gaps and assessment tools, with the aim of informing future research directions and contributing to personalised, multidisciplinary pain management strategies in clinical practice… METHOD: A comprehensive bibliometric analysis was conducted using relevant databases, identifying 208 publications related to haemophilia and pain. A content analysis was performed to categorise research based on study types, key variables and assessment tools. Variables were classified into demographic, clinical, pain assessment, joint health, functional, psychosocial and treatment-related categories.

The analysis revealed that pain management, joint health, QoL and rehabilitation strategies are central research themes. Randomised controlled trials focused on interventions such as exercise, kinesiology taping and alternative therapies, while descriptive studies examined pain prevalence, severity and its psychosocial impact. However, research gaps exist in areas such as neuropathic pain, paediatric and elderly populations, and digital health applications. The findings also emphasise the increasing use of patient-reported outcome measures in evaluating pain and treatment efficacy.

These insights highlight the multifaceted nature of pain in haemophilia and underscore the need for multidisciplinary management strategies. Future research should focus on personalised approaches, innovative interventions and integrating digital health solutions to improve patient outcomes.