A recent study has highlighted the increased risk of falls in patients with haemophilia (PwH) due to haemophilic arthropathy, emphasising the importance of specific clinical motor performance tests to assess and mitigate this risk.
Researchers aimed to evaluate the feasibility of various clinical motor performance tests for PwH, compare their performance to healthy controls, and identify factors influencing their performance. The study involved 29 severe and moderate PwH, aged approximately 57 years, and an equal number of age- and BMI-matched healthy controls. Participants underwent 13 clinical tests, including the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), timed up and go (TUG), push and release, functional reach, single-leg stance, and assessments of knee and grip strength. Additional measures included the Haemophilia Joint Health Score (HJHS), the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-11), subjective physical performance (HEP-Test-Q), and fall efficiency (FES-I).
No adverse events were reported during the study. PwH demonstrated significantly impaired performance across all clinical tests compared to the control group, with particularly notable deficits in single-leg stance with eyes open and knee extensor strength. PwH also exhibited lower fall efficiency and higher HJHS scores. The study identified a 27.6% prevalence of falls in PwH over the past year, compared to 10.3% in the control group.
Performance deficits were more pronounced in PwH with severe joint impairment, high levels of kinesiophobia, and low subjective physical performance scores. These findings suggest that the identified clinical tests are feasible and valuable tools for healthcare professionals to assess and monitor motor abilities and fall risk in PwH.
This study provides important insights for clinicians treating patients with haemophilia, emphasising the need for regular assessment of motor performance and tailored interventions to mitigate fall risks. The clinical tests used in the study can offer specific information to guide patient management and improve safety outcomes.
Reference
Tomschi F et al. Functional clinical motor performance tests to assess potential fall risks in patients with haemophilia: A case-control study. Haemophilia. 2024
