Self-Administered Bleeding Assessment Tool Scores in Individuals With Verified Bleeding Disorders

Determine self-administered bleeding assessment tool (self-BAT) scores in individuals with verified bleeding disorders, and determine sensitivity and specificity of different cut-off values.

Observational cohort study of self-BAT scores from adults with verified haemophilia A, haemophilia B, von Willebrand disease (VWD), platelet defects, and bleeding disorders of unknown cause (BDUC) followed at the Haemophilia Centre, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen. Sensitivity and specificity for abnormal total self-BAT score using the original cut-off values (6 for women, 4 for men) and proposed cut-off values (9 for women, 5 for men) were calculated by comparing findings to those from a previously published cohort of 1007 healthy individuals (553 women, 454 men).

Of 465 invited, 227 completed the self-BAT. Median (interquartile range) total self-BAT score was 22 (18-26) (min-max: 11-30) in individuals with platelet defects (n = 6), 18 (14-22) (min-max: 5-43) for BDUC (n = 75), 17 (14-19) (min-max: 7-28) for haemophilia B (n = 16), 14 (9-20) (min-max: 1-32) for haemophilia A (n = 62) and 12 (8-20) (min-max: 1-35) for VWD (n = 68). In total, 81% of women had self-BAT score ≥ 9 and 96% of men had self-BAT score ≥ 5, while 95% of women had self-BAT score ≥ 6 and 98% of men had self-BAT score ≥ 4.

Our findings suggest that the original total self-BAT cut-off value (6 for women, 4 for men) seems reasonable with acceptable accuracy. However, a prospective study on self-BAT scores and comprehensive diagnostic work-up for individuals referred for potential bleeding disorder is needed, to standardise the diagnostic approach and refine the screening tool.