Percepción de dolor y calidad de vida en pacientes pediátricos con hemofilia.

Hemophilia is a hemorrhagic condition characterized by a deficiency of clotting factor VIII (hemophilia A) or factor IX (hemophilia B). Patients with this condition suffer hemorrhagic episodes throughout their lives and may experience pain and low levels of quality of life. Objective: Analyze the relationship between pain perception and health-related quality of life in pediatric patients with hemophilia and their parents. A total of 173 patient and parent/guardian dyads from central Mexico participated. The study involved the application of three questionnaires: 1. an ad hoc questionnaire on sociodemographic data, 2. the Pediatric Quality of Life Questionnaire (PedsQL), and 3. the Pediatric Pain Questionnaire. The results show a difference between patients and their parents' perceptions of quality of life and pain. According to the visual analog scales, parents reported a higher pain level in their children. In addition, significant correlations resulted between quality of life and pain with some sociodemographic variables. In conclusion, the presence of pain affects the quality of life of the hemophilia patient and is associated with variables such as age, severity, and complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]