Current Status of Swedish Hemophiliacs

Abstract

A comprehensive survey of the Swedish hemophilic population (hemophilia A and B) was undertaken in 1980. The total number of known hemophiliacs was 564. The ratio of hemophilia A to B was 4:1. The severe form constituted .apprx. 30% of each type. The incidence remained fairly constant since 1957 and was 1.67/yr per 10,000 males born. The prevalence was 6.8/100,000 inhabitants. There was an increase in the prevalence in all counties, but the increase varied considerably, 19-383%. The overall increase of hemophilia was 123%. Among mild cases the increase was 245%, whereas it was only 48% among the severe hemophiliacs. This skewness was attributed to better laboratory diagnoses and increased life expectancy. The proportion of mild cases increased from 35% in 1960 to 54% at the time of the present investigation. The situation was the reverse for the severe cases, a decrease from 45 to 30%. The mean and median ages among moderate and mild hemophiliacs deviated only little from the corresponding figure in the total population. Among severe cases, mean and median age were 8-13 yr less than in the normal population.