RESUMO
Abstract Background: People with haemophilia (PwH) are living longer. Therefore, they can develop atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Electrocardiogram (ECG) alterations may be a sign of initial ASCVD before the occurrence of symptoms. Objective: To describe the prevalence of resting ECG alterations among PwH adults asymptomatic for ASCVD. Methods: PwH aged ≥ 30 years without previous ASCVD events were considered for the analysis. Resting ECG traces were analysed according to international reference values and the Brazilian Longitudinal Adult Health Study (ELSA-Brasil) results for asymptomatic Brazilian men. Based on the established normal values and using the QT index, we further described the altered ECGs as minor or major changes, according to the Minnesota Code. Differences between prevalences were evaluated by Pearson's χ2 test. Differences between medians were evaluated by the Mann-Whitney U test. A p-value < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. Results: A total of 64 PwH were included in the study. Median age was 44 years (interquartile range 35-52). Most patients had haemophilia A (81%) and 47% were severe. The prevalence of obesity, systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), diabetes mellitus (DM), and dyslipidaemia were 16%, 56%, 14%, and 72%, respectively. All the PwH had sinus rhythm, except for one, who had an implanted pacemaker due to idiopathic third-degree atrioventricular block. Altered ECGs were found in 25% and 30% of PwH, according to established criteria and ELSA-Brasil criteria, respectively. Major changes were found in eight (13%) PwH according to the Minnesota Code, including two ECGs with ischaemia-like wall inactivity. Conclusions: The prevalence of altered ECG varied from 25% to 30% among asymptomatic PwH.
RESUMO
Since the introduction of episodic and prophylactic treatments with safer factor concentrates, the life expectancy of people with haemophilia (PwH) has improved considerably. Ageing-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) have also become more prevalent in PwH. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate CVD risk factors and estimate 10-year risk for CVD events among PwH. Male patients ≥ 30 years were interviewed and examined. Blood tests were performed at the local laboratory. Eighty-two patients were included, of whom 83% had haemophilia A and half had severe disease. Median age at study entry was 43.0 years (interquartile range [IQR], 36.0-51.3). Prevalence of obesity, systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) and diabetes mellitus were 16%, 60% and 16%, respectively. Hypertriglyceridaemia, hypercholesterolaemia and low HDL blood levels were present in 18%, 41% and 30% of patients, respectively. Metabolic syndrome was found in 37%. The Framingham Risk Score showed that 39% of PwH had a high risk of developing cardiovascular events in the following 10 years. We conclude that, in this cohort, PwH have a higher prevalence of SAH when compared with Brazilian men without haemophilia and about two-fifths have a high risk of developing a CVD event in the following 10 years.
