Blood Adv. 2021 Dec 8:bloodadvances.2021005260. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2021005260. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Hemophilia is a congenital bleeding disorder caused by low clotting factor VIII or IX levels. Life expectancy of people with hemophilia (PWH) has increased with the availability of clotting factor concentrates. At the same time, the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has increased. In retrospective studies there are conflicting data if, despite this increase, the incidence is still lower than in the general population. We prospectively compared the incidence of CVD in PWH with the predicted incidence. This prospective, multicenter, observational study included adult PWH (>30y) from the Netherlands and United Kingdom (UK). They were followed for a 5-year period and CVD incidence was compared with a predicted event rate based on the QRISK2-2011 CVD risk model. The primary endpoint was the observed fatal and nonfatal CVD incidence after 5 years compared to the estimated events and in relation to severity of hemophilia. The study included 709 patients, of whom 687 (96.9%) completed 5 years follow up or reached an endpoint. For 108 patients the QRISK score could not be calculated at inclusion. For the remaining 579 fewer CVD events were observed than predicted: 9 versus 24 (RR 0.38; 95% CI: 0.18 – 0.80 p=0.01), corresponding with an absolute risk reduction of 2.4%. Severe hemophilia treated on demand had the highest risk reduction. There was no statistical significant relation between severity of hemophilia and incidence of CVD. In hemophilia a lower than predicted CVD incidence was found, supporting the theory that hemophilia protects against CVD. The study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (identification number NCT01303900).
PMID:34879394 | DOI:10.1182/bloodadvances.2021005260
