IngentaConnect Quality of life during menstruation in patients with inherited bl...

Abstract:

Menorrhagia is a common and major problem for patients with inherited bleeding disorders, especially vWD. Quality of life during menstruation was assessed in 99 patients with inherited bleeding disorders including vWD (n = 57), carriers of haemophilia A (n = 17), carriers of haemophilia B (n = 7) and FXI deficiency (n = 18), and comparison was performed with an age-matched control group (n = 69). A questionnaire was used that included four main sections: (i) general health, (ii) health and daily activities, (iii) dysmenorrhea and (iv) quality of life during the menstrual period. Although patients with inherited bleeding disorders felt that their health (in general) was very good, they had significantly poorer quality of life on all the scales used than controls. Thirty-nine per cent reported having cut down on the amount of time spent on work and other activities as a result of their menstruation; 47% felt that they accomplished less than they would like during this period, 38% felt that they were limited in the kind of work and other activities that they could do, and 40% found that it took extra effort to perform their work. Fifty-one per cent experienced moderate, severe or very severe dysmenorrhoea. Quality of life was statistically poorer in patients with vWD, menstrual scores> 100 according to the pictorial blood assessment chart (PBAC), those who had periods ≥8 days and those who experienced flooding or passage of clots. In conclusion, menstruation has a negative effect on the quality of life in patients with inherited bleeding disorders especially in those with objectively confirmed menorrhagia.

Keywords: carriers of haemophilia; factor XI deficiency; menstruation; quality of life; von Willebrand's disease

Document Type: Original article

DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2516.1998.00208.x

Affiliations: 1: University Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, London NW3 2QG, UK, 2: Department of Primary Care and Population sciences, London NW3 2QG, UK, 3: Haemophilia Centre and Haemostasis Unit, The Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, Hampstead, London NW3 2QG, UK

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Quality of life during menstruation in patients with inherited bleeding disorders