Abstract Number: NUR 01.2
Meeting: ISTH 2021 Congress
Theme: COVID and Coagulation » COVID and Coagulation, Clinical
Background: COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in children being less physically active and spending more time at home in front of screens with easy access to food. We endeavoured to evaluate the impact of this on weight/BMI in children with severe bleeding disorders on prophylaxis followed through our Bleeding Disorders’ program.
Aims: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of eligible patients followed from 01/Mar/2020–01/Mar/2021. We evaluated the following variables: weight (kg), weight percentile (%), BMI (kg/m2), BMI percentile (%), HJHS total score, and prophylactic dosing (units/kg). We accepted variables taken within 12 months pre 01/Mar/2020 to any time at least 6 months post 01/Mar/2020.
Methods: Eligible patients were 3-18 years of age with a severe bleeding disorder on prophylaxis.
Results: 98 patients (95 males:3 females) were in the final analysis. Baseline diagnoses were: 71 hemophilia A; 12 hemophilia B; 9 Type 3 von Willebrand disease; 3 FVII deficiency; 1 FXIII deficiency; 1 FX deficiency; and 1 afibrinogenemia. Median age at the time of baseline assessment was 11.9 years (IQR 8.13-15.47 years). Median interval time from pre-COVID measurements to latest follow-up was 10.0 months (IQR 7.0-12.0 months) during which patients gained a median of 4.6 kg and increased 1.72 weight centiles (IQR: -2.2325 – +5.7125). Patient BMI increased a median of 1.36 kg/m2 and BMI % increased by 1.75 centiles. The group that gained the most weight centiles, BMI and BMI centiles were 6-12 years old, closely followed by the 12–18-year-old group.
Conclusions: There was a trend to weight gain during the COVID-19 pandemic. This can have short- and long-term negative impacts on children with bleeding disorders potentially contributing to more joint morbidity. Additionally, there may be increased healthcare costs associated with weight gain for children on prophylaxis as prophylaxis doses are likely to be adjusted upwards with increased patient weight.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Bouskill V, Tetzlaff D, Malcolmson C, Wakefield C, Carcao M. COVID-19 and its Impact on the Pediatric Bleeding Disorders Population: Soaring BMIs [abstract]. Res Pract Thromb Haemost. 2021; 5 (Suppl 2). https://abstracts.isth.org/abstract/covid-19-and-its-impact-on-the-pediatric-bleeding-disorders-population-soaring-bmis/. Accessed March 22, 2024.« Back to ISTH 2021 Congress
ISTH Congress Abstracts - https://abstracts.isth.org/abstract/covid-19-and-its-impact-on-the-pediatric-bleeding-disorders-population-soaring-bmis/