Pain and functional impairment assessment and their relationship in young patients with haemophilia in Bangladesh

Assessing pain and functional impairment in individuals with haemophilia is crucial for understanding disease burden and optimizing care. This study assess the relationship between pain and functional impairment in young patients with hemophilia. This cross-sectional study involved 273 participants conveniently selected from different tertiary-level hospitals in various areas of Bangladesh. A structured questionnaire was used to assess socio-demographic and clinical information. The primary outcome was pain measured by the Brief Pain Inventory v2 Short Form and functional impairment by EQ-5D- 5 L with a visual analogue scale. The study of 184 Haemophilia A and 89 Haemophilia B Young patients revealed similar demographics, with mean ages of 22.5 ± 6.8 and 23.2 ± 7.1 years, respectively, and over 95% male. Pain assessments revealed minimal discomfort for most, with the hips being the least affected (77–78% reported no pain), while the right elbow and knee reported the most pain (38.6% reported no pain). Functionally, self-care was least impaired (81%, had no issues), but mobility and usual activities showed moderate challenges. A strong correlation (r = 0.731, 0.703) linked higher pain/discomfort with increased pain severity and interference, both significant (p < 0.05). This study reveals that young males with Haemophilia A and B in Bangladesh experience varying degrees of pain and functional impairment, with the elbows and knees being the most commonly affected joints. Although a high rate of unemployment was observed; likely reflecting physical limitations and socioeconomic barriers; self-care abilities remained largely intact, suggesting that basic daily tasks are still manageable for most individuals. In contrast, mobility challenges were more prevalent, indicating that while participants may be capable of managing personal care, they face greater difficulty with physically demanding activities such as walking or commuting. The strong correlation between pain severity and functional interference further underscores the need for targeted interventions, including joint protection strategies, pain management, and vocational rehabilitation, to improve both functional outcomes and quality of life.