Haemophilia & Exercise Project (HEP): subjective and objective physical performance in adult haemophilia patients - results of a cross-sectional study

. Recurrent musculoskeletal haemorrhages in people with haemophilia (PWH) lead to restrictions in the locomotor system and consequently in physical performance. Patients perceptions of their health status have gained an important role in the last few years. The assessment of subjective physical performance in PWH is a new approach. This study aimed to compare the subjective physical performance of PWH with healthy controls and to correlate the results with objective data. Subjective physical performance was assessed via the new questionnaire HEP-Test-Q, which consists of 25 items pertaining to four subscales mobility, strength & coordination, endurance and body perception. HEP-Test-Q subscales were compared with objective data in terms of range of motion, one-leg-stand and 12-minute walk test. Forty-eight patients (44 +/- 11 years) with haemophilia A (43 severe, three moderate) or B (two severe) and 43 controls without haemophilia (42 +/- 11 years) were enrolled. PWH showed an impaired subjective physical performance in all HEP-Test-Q subscales and in the total score (52 +/- 20) compared with controls (77 +/- 10; P = 0.001). Correlation analyses for the total score of the HEP-Test-Q and objective data revealed values ranging from r = 0.403 (one-leg-stand) to r = 0.757 (12-minute walk test) (P = 0.001). PWH evaluated their physical performance poorer in comparison with healthy people. As self-assessment did not always correlate highly with objective data, objective examinations of physical performance in PWH should be complemented with subjective perceptions.