Dental disease in type 3 Von Willebrand disease: a neglected problem

Oral health in individuals with bleeding disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Individuals with bleeding disorders have been reported to have a number of oral health issues due to varying conditions. A comprehensive evaluation of the different oral health conditions has not been carried out in the past. This systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out to collate and critically analyse existing research, and provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on oral health.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted in electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus and Embase, in October 2023. No restriction on time frame or language was applied. The risk of bias for cross-sectional studies was assessed using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) tool, and case control studies were assessed using the New Castle Ottawa Scale (NOS).

RESULTS

Twenty-two articles were included in the final analysis with a total sample size of 2422 subjects. Of the 22 articles assessed, nine quantitative assessments were included in the Meta analysis. Pooled data analysis was carried out. A total of 13 studies reported medium risk whereas the remaining nine studies showed low risk of bias. The weighted mean DMFT scores in individuals with bleeding disorders were found to be 2.43 [0.62. 4.24], mean dmft was 2.79 [1.05, 4.53] and mean OHI-S was reported to be 1.79 [1.00, 2.57], respectively.

CONCLUSION

The findings emphasize that these individuals have fair oral hygiene and lower dmft/DMFT scores. Oral bleeding emerged as an important oral health component to be cautiously dealt with particularly during the stages of exfoliation/shedding.

A need to increase von Willebrand disease awareness: vwdtest.com - A global initiative to help address this gap

Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is an inherited bleeding disorder caused by quantitative or qualitative deficiencies in von Willebrand factor (VWF). People with VWD may experience excessive, recurrent or prolonged bleeding, particularly during menstruation, childbirth, surgery or following trauma. However, many VWD patients are undiagnosed, and therefore inadequately treated. Reasons for the underdiagnosis of VWD include its relatively mild symptoms, complex diagnosis, lack of awareness among non-specialist healthcare providers and the general population, and a lack of prioritisation of disorders disproportionately affecting females. The vwdtest.com platform was launched as part of a global initiative to raise awareness and improve diagnosis of VWD. Besides providing VWD-specific educational resources, the website includes an online bleeding self-assessment tool and offers diagnostic support for individuals, and their providers, who have a score suggestive of a bleeding disorder. vwdtest.com helps to address these unmet needs, especially in regions with limited access to educational and diagnostic resources.

Clinical, economic, and health-related quality of life burden associated with von Willebrand disease in adults and children: Systematic and targeted literature reviews

INTRODUCTION

Debilitating clinical complications in von Willebrand disease (VWD) can affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL), increase healthcare costs and cause long-lasting consequences. However, the magnitude of these burdens needs to be more fully explored.

AIM

To estimate the prevalence and burden of clinical complications, the impact on HRQoL and the economic burden associated with VWD.

METHODS

Embase^® , MEDLINE^® , the Cochrane Library and conference proceedings were searched for studies on VWD evaluating clinical complications, HRQoL and cost and resource use.

RESULTS

Among 16 studies assessing clinical complications in VWD, the most prevalent bleeding symptoms were menorrhagia (2%-95% [n = 7 studies]), epistaxis (12%-80% [n = 6]) and easy bruising (46%-65% [n = 2]). Among 17 studies evaluating HRQoL, the most common assessment scales were the generic SF-36 (n = 8 studies) and the EQ-5D (n = 2). Bleeding symptoms were associated with reduced QoL in six of seven studies, and of six studies evaluating treatment impact, four reported improvements in one or more HRQoL components. Among 25 studies on cost and resource use, key observations included higher post-surgery healthcare costs in VWD versus non-VWD patients (n = 1 study) and higher costs and resource use in VWD patients with bleeding complications versus those without (n = 1).

CONCLUSION

Although limited, available evidence suggests that VWD patients experience a high burden of clinical complications, reduced QoL and high healthcare costs. Haemarthrosis is more common in severe VWD than is often assumed, and bleeds (including haemarthrosis) can reduce QoL. Research efforts to improve QoL and other outcomes should be prioritized.