Physical activity patterns in people with haemophilia with and without arthropathy: a cross-sectional study using wearable sensors

BACKGROUND: In haemophilia, recurrent joint bleeding often results in joint destruction, which in turn leads to reduced physical activity (PA) and decreased quality of life (QOL). While maintaining high PA levels is important in the care of people with haemophilia (PwH), it remains unclear whether PwH without joint disease can maintain adequate activity levels. AIM: This descriptive cross-sectional study sought to compare moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels among 19 PwH with haemophilic arthropathy (HA), 12 PwH without HA, and 15 non-PwH. METHODS: A total of 46 males wore a triaxial accelerometer (wGT3X-BT, ActiGraph) during daily activities for seven consecutive days. A bout of MVPA was defined as at least 10 consecutive minutes of moderate-intensity or higher activity. MVPA was expressed as the percentage of the total wear time spent in MVPA, and the total number of MVPA bouts was also recorded. RESULTS: Both PwH groups demonstrated significantly lower MVPA percentages and fewer MVPA bouts than the controls (p < 0.01). No MVPA bouts were recorded among 52.6% of PwH with HA versus 25% of PwH without HA. No significant differences were observed in sedentary or light activity between the PwH groups. CONCLUSIONS: PA levels were significantly reduced in PwH, regardless of joint status, suggesting that factors beyond joint damage, such as fear of bleeding or behavioural avoidance, may play a role. These findings highlight the need for individualized, evidence-based interventions to safely promote physical activity and improve long-term health outcomes in PwH.