Emergency department visits in children with hemophilia

The Impact of Emicizumab Prophylaxis on Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits Among Hemophilia A Patients Is Age Related

INTRODUCTION

Hemophilia A (HA) therapy poses a significant healthcare burden. In recent years, emicizumab has been approved for prophylaxis. The current study explores the impact of transitioning to emicizumab on emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations in pediatric and adult HA patients.

METHODS

Data of HA patients transitioned to emicizumab at the Israeli National Hemophilia Center was retrospectively analyzed. Demographic information, inhibitor status, treatment duration, number, and reasons of ED visits and hospitalizations were assessed.

RESULTS

Overall, transitioning to emicizumab significantly reduced ED visits and hospitalizations. While children experienced a significant reduction in both ED visits and hospitalizations, adults showed no statistically significant change. Post-emicizumab initiation, main reasons for ED visits among children shifted from prophylactic treatment and central line-associated complications to injury-related incidents.

CONCLUSIONS

This real-world analysis demonstrates a substantial decrease in ED visits and hospitalizations, following emicizumab prophylaxis in HA patients. However, this improvement was age dependent as it was observed only among children. Further prospective studies evaluating this aspect may shed light on these findings.

Evaluation of primary care physicians' approaches to hemophilia and bleeding disorders: a questionnaire survey

Bleeding disorders are causes of great concern and panic for parents and primary care providers. Lack of knowledge and awareness on appropriate screening tests and factor product preparation contributed to potential diagnostic delays, increased complications, and economic costs. This study aimed to determine and compare the approach of primary care physicians (including general practitioners) and emergency physicians with a questionnaire including simulation-based cases on hemophilia. This simulation and two-stage questionnaire study was conducted with 244 participants. Before-after questionnaires, two case simulations, a brief presentation, and statistical analysis were performed. Participants mostly preferred tests, such as prothrombin time (PT) or partial thromboplastin time (PTT) to bleeding time for primary hemostasis (PT/PTT n: 192, 84.2%, bleeding time n: 94, 41.2%). Similar results were found for secondary hemostasis (bleeding time n: 144, 63.4%). There was a lack of knowledge in the management of simulation-based cases of acute hemorrhagic complications and factor product preparation (complication case: correct n: 100, 55.2%; initial doses correct n: 56, 43.4%, factor preparing correct n: 37, 49.3%, factor admission correct n: 36, 24.3%). All changed significantly, after the presentation (P = 0.000). Our study shows that there is probably a lack of knowledge of diagnostic investigations and appropriate factor product preparation with possible consequences for patients and economics.

Barriers and challenges for the fast treatment of bleeds in the non-haemophilia treatment centre hospital setting

INTRODUCTION

Early treatment for acute bleeds in patients with haemophilia and inhibitors is feasible when patients are managed in haemophilia treatment centres (HTCs). Patients may need to attend non-HTCs for out-of-hours emergency care, especially if HTCs are not local and/or transport is difficult.

AIM

We evaluated the barriers to the fast treatment of bleeds in patients with haemophilia and inhibitors presenting at non-HTCs.

METHODS

Healthcare professionals (HCPs) from non-HTCs in the United States (n = 218) and Germany (n = 98) were selected from validated online panels and invited to participate in a survey (October-November 2017).

RESULTS

A mean of 6 (US) and 5 (German) patients with haemophilia and inhibitors were managed for bleeds by these HCPs over 12 months; patient characteristics were similar in both countries. The main HCPs involved in treating bleeds were emergency room specialists (94%) and haematologists (91%) (US); haematologists (79%) and anaesthesiologists (59%) (Germany). Only 26% (US) and 28% (Germany) of HCPs had access to treatment guidelines for these patients; access to bypassing agents was similarly limited: 44% (US) and 38% (Germany) of HCPs reported their institution did not stock these agents. In both countries, key reasons for delaying treatment were lack of bypassing agent availability, HCP experience/education of bleed disorders and internal process time.

CONCLUSION

Barriers to fast treatment of bleeds in patients with haemophilia and inhibitors were identified in non-HTCs in the United States and Germany. These could be reduced by improving the availability of treatment guidelines, bypassing agents and HCP education/training.

Head trauma in the haemophilic child and management in a paediatric emergency department: Descriptive study

INTRODUCTION

Haemophilia is one of the most common inherited bleeding disorders in the Emergency Department (ED). The most dangerous site of bleeding is the central nervous system.

AIMS

To describe the characteristics of haemophiliacs arrived to our ED following a head trauma and to analyse the incidence of intracranial haemorrhage (ICH).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective, analytical, observational study, conducted in a Paediatric ED. We included haemophilic patients aged from birth to 16 years who consulted after a head trauma over a 6-year period. Data collected included age, type of haemophilia and head trauma, symptoms, prophylaxis status, CT imaging, treatment and number of visits to the ED.

RESULTS

About 46 males and 85 episodes were analysed. The median age was 2.38 years. Severe haemophilia A was the most frequent type of disease (50%). All head injuries were mild, and the most frequent mechanism was a collision with an object (38.8%). In 62 episodes (72.9%) the patients were asymptomatic. The rest 23 events had symptomatology, being the most common headache (26%), emesis (21.7%) and drowsiness (17.4%). Head CT was obtained in 31 episodes, founding altered results in 10 (6 of them corresponding to ICH). All the patients with ICH had symptomatology. About 37 episodes required admission.

CONCLUSION

Intracranial haemorrhage is one of the most dangerous events in haemophiliacs and it may occur after a head trauma. Our study suggests that, in case of head trauma, CT must be obtained in symptomatic patients and in those with additional risk factors. Asymptomatic patients must have prolonged observation.

Emergency department utilization by haemophilia patients in United States

INTRODUCTION

Patients with haemophilia are prone to medical emergencies. Emergency departments (ED) often do not have a haematologist on-call for consultation.

AIM

The aim of this study was to determine the utilization of ED by patients with haemophilia.

METHODS

Retrospective review of the 'National ED Database Sample' for years 2006-2013 was performed. Patient and hospital demographics were collected. Hospital charges were projected to national levels using discharge-weighted variables.

RESULTS

During the 8-year study period, haemophilia patients made 162 982 ED visits. This represents 0.016% of total ED visits nationwide. Children utilized ED the most. More than half of patients resided in metropolitan cities; 20% had over $63 000 annual household income. Government insurances were the largest primary payers; 30% had private insurance. In the year 2012, 4488 ED visits with 21 000 diagnoses codes were recorded. Mean age was 29 years. Cardiovascular were the most frequently reported complaints followed by injuries, haemorrhages and sepsis. Seventy percent patients were treated and released from the ED. Two patients died in ED, whereas 35 after admission to hospital. Cause of death included Sepsis (n = 26) and brain haemorrhage (n = 4). Among children, injuries were the most frequent complaints followed by joint/soft tissue disorders; fevers and central line complications. Average charge per visit at private vs. public hospital was $2988 and $2254 respectively (P = 0.03). National estimate of total charges was $60 million.

CONCLUSION

Patients with haemophilia have tendency to utilize ED. Hypertension was the single most common presenting complaint in adults. No deaths were reported in children from brain haemorrhage.

Diagnostic evaluation of our patients with hemophilia A: 17-year experience

AIM

Hemophilia A is a rare inherited bleeding disorder resulting from factor VIII deficiency and is a group of diseases characterized by intra-articular and intramuscular bleeding. In this study, we aimed to retrospectively evaluate the treatment outcomes, demographic and clinical characteristics of our patients who were treated and followed up for last 17 years in our pediatric hematology unit with a diagnosis of Hemophilia A.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The medical records of 83 patients who were diagnosed with Hemophilia A and followed up between 1997 and 2014 in our hospital's pediatric hematology clinic were reviewed retrospectively. The demographic data, prophylaxis state, development of inhibitors and clinical characteristics of the patients were evaluated.

RESULTS

When the complaints at presentation were examined, it was found that 27 (32%) patients had hemarthrosis, 24 (29%) patients had ecchymosis and hematoma, 13 (16%) patients had prolonged bleeding after trauma or cut, 10 (12%) patients had gingival, mouth or nose bleeding, 4 (5%) patients had prolonged bleeding after circumcision, 4 (5%) patients had gastrointestinal bleeding, 1 (1%) patient had hematuria. Fifty (60%) patients were considered severe hemophilia A, 20 (24%) patients were considered moderate hemophilia A and 13 (16%) patients were considered mild hemophilia A according to factor activity. Among severe hemophilia A patients, primary prophylaxis was being administered in 2 (2%) patients and secondary prophylaxis was being administered in 40 (48%) patients. Inhibitor positivity was found in 8 (10%) of these patients. It is found that hemophilic artropathy developed in 17 patients and 8 of these 17 patients had undergone radioisotope synovectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of severe bleeding in hemophilia A patients should be performed in hospital and the presence of inhibitor must be investigated in cases of uncontrolled bleeding where adequate doses of factor concentrates have been administered for treatment. In order to decrease the development of inhibitor, prophlaxis should be suggested to patients rather than repetetive treatment when bleeding occurs. The radioactive synovectomy should not be overlooked in countries like ours in which factors can not be used adequately.