In August 2020, the third edition of the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) Guidelines for the Management of Hemophilia was published and became available on the publisher Wiley’s website. This digital resource, accessible to anyone around the world, provides revised guidance and practical recommendations on the diagnosis and management of hemophilia, including the management of musculoskeletal complications and inhibitors, updates to laboratory diagnosis and genetic assessments, and new recommendations on outcome assessments.
The guidelines are an invaluable resource for anyone supporting or working with a person with hemophilia, as they provide the gold standard for optimal care delivery. They are based on the best available evidence, supplemented with expert opinion and patient preference, and developed by consensus using the Trustworthy Consensus-Based Statement process to ensure reliable guidance. The guideline panel was composed of clinically and geographically diverse experts in hemophilia care. Notably, 25% of the members were people with hemophilia or caregivers.
The guidelines are appropriate for caregivers in both developed and developing countries. The high-quality, evidence- and expert-informed treatment guidelines offer a means to bridge the gap between treatment practices and care around the world. They offer a set of practical recommendations intended to improve the quality of care globally, promote effective clinical interventions and decrease variations in clinical practice. Where recommendations lack adequate evidence, these guidelines can stimulate appropriate studies. They can also be used as a resource for advocacy organizations across the globe that are working toward goals such as health equity.
The WFH sincerely thanks the more than 100 contributors who made the development of the guidelines possible. Under normal circumstances, releasing updates to the hemophilia treatment guidelines is a mammoth undertaking, but the COVID-19 pandemic introduced added challenges to the process. The contributors—hemophilia care experts, people with hemophilia, numerous reviewers and a team of methodologists—are proud to have successfully overcome these challenges.
Everyone involved generously gave their time and expertise to ensure the highest quality of each chapter. As a result of their generosity, the guidelines provide invaluable care recommendations to healthcare providers and people with hemophilia around the world.
“The WFH Guidelines for the Management of Hemophilia, 3rd Edition, is an extremely important reference guide for physicians caring for patients with hemophilia,” says Glenn Pierce, MD, PhD, WFH vice president, medical. “Any physician following the recommendations in these guidelines can be assured that they are following the latest and best practices in hemophilia.”