EAHAD 2026: Advances in Hemophilia & Bleeding Disorder Care Highlighted

Top Summary

• What happened: The 19th Annual Congress of the European Association for Haemophilia and Allied Disorders (EAHAD) highlighted advancements in care and addressed emerging challenges.
• Why it matters: The conference fosters collaboration among healthcare professionals to improve patient outcomes in bleeding disorders.
• What changes for people: New care strategies, research findings, and management approaches for conditions like hemophilia and Glanzmann thrombasthenia were discussed.
• Who is affected: Patients with hemophilia, Glanzmann thrombasthenia, and other bleeding disorders, along with their families and healthcare providers.

EAHAD 2026: A Collaborative Effort

The EAHAD 2026 Congress, led by Congress President Niamh O'Connell, emphasized high-quality clinical care, education, and scientific research. O'Connell invoked the Irish concept of 'meitheal,' highlighting the unified community advancing hemophilia care.

 

"Create networks, make connections, go home with heads full of plans, and computers full of ideas."

 

The event featured an Allied Healthcare Professionals' Day, showcasing the roles of nurses, physiotherapists, and psychosocial professionals (PPs).

Allied Healthcare Professionals' Day

The Allied Healthcare Professionals' Day included joint sessions and specialized streams for nurses, physiotherapists, and PPs.

Joint sessions focused on family consultations, addressing intergenerational guilt and complex family dynamics. Christina Burgess summarized the PP stream, addressing mental and social issues in patients.

Emerging psychosocial principles for gene therapy and trauma-sensitive care for new diagnoses were key topics. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for anxiety was also discussed.

Nursing & Physiotherapy Streams

Maj Friberg Birkedal detailed the nursing stream, highlighting the SLAM session which showcased nurse-led research projects.

Cristina Benedicto Moreno won the SLAM session with their abstract on a nursing-led remote evaluation for heavy menstrual bleeding in adolescents. Other sessions covered procedure-related anxiety in children and mucosal bleeds.

Ruth Elise Dybvik Matlary summarized the physiotherapy stream, which also featured a SLAM session.

Paula Loughnane won the physiotherapy SLAM session with their abstract on physical activity patterns in Irish children with hemophilia. Sessions also focused on joint health and a debate on annual musculoskeletal reviews.

Successful Ageing Strategies

Rose Anne Kenny presented evidence-based strategies for successful aging, defining 'lifespan,' 'life expectancy,' and 'health span'.

The global population is aging, with significant increases projected by 2100. Between 2023 and 2100, the population of people aged 65 years or over is set to increase by 49% in Albania, 41% in China, 34% in France, and 30% in the USA.

Kenny highlighted the disparity between life expectancy and health-adjusted life expectancy, noting a 13% widening gap from 2000 to 2019. Women experience a wider health span-life span gap than men.

Multimorbidities and Co-morbidities

Kenny addressed multimorbidities, noting they increase with age. A 2019 study of over 6,101 Irish adults aged over 50 found a 73.25% lifetime prevalence of multimorbidity.

High cholesterol, arthritis, and hypertension were highly prevalent morbidities among males. Pre-existing conditions should be factored into patient care plans.

Glanzmann Thrombasthenia Study

A European prospective study at EAHAD 2026 provided insights into Glanzmann thrombasthenia, a rare inherited platelet disorder.

The Glanzmann Natural History Study (GNHS) systematically collects data to improve understanding. As of early 2026, 32 patients had been enrolled, with a target of 200 patients.

Among the enrolled cohort, 50% were female, representing all major Glanzmann thrombasthenia types. Significant comorbidities included intracranial bleeds and thrombotic events.

40% of patients required medical treatment for bleeding over a 4-week period. The ITP-BAT tool showed promise for monitoring treatment responses.

What to Watch Next

The ongoing Glanzmann Natural History Study will continue to track clinical outcomes and antibody prevalence, paving the way for evidence-based strategies. Further research and multidisciplinary collaboration are essential for addressing the evolving challenges in hemophilia and bleeding disorder care.