Multimorbidities and polypharmacy in ageing hemophilia patients

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate whether multimorbidities, comorbidities, and therefore polypharmacy increase with age in hemophilia A and B patients followed in Ege University Adult Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center. Materials and Methods: Adult hemophilia A and B patients were retrospectively evaluated. Patients'demographic data, medical information about hemophilic arthropathy, viral infections hepatitis C virus (HCV), body mass index (BMI), smoking and alcohol consumption, concomitant diseases, and all medications except factor replacement therapy were analyzed. Polypharmacy was defined as ≥5 drug use. Patients were compared by dividing into two groups: ≤55 years and >55 years. Results: A total of 230 patients were evaluated (189 hemophilia A, 41 hemophilia B). There were 191 patients in ≤55 years (83%), and 39 patients in >55 years age groups (17%). The most common diseases in hemophilia patients were hypertension (19.5%), diabetes mellitus (10%), and gastroesophageal reflux disease-chronic gastritis (5.2%). The most common drugs that patients use regularly were non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (14.3%), proton pump inhibitors (12.1%), and oral antidiabetics (9.5%). The number of diseases not related to hemophilia (multimorbidity) and polypharmacy in hemophilia patients aged >55 years was significantly higher than those aged