The current widespread use of prophylaxis in developed countries has enabled greater participation in physical activity. However, there are no data available on leisure-time physical activity in Australian children with haemophilia. The data reported here were obtained from a case-crossover study nested in a prospective cohort study of 104 boys with moderate and severe haemophilia followed for one year. Each child's physical activity was assessed using a modifiable physical activity questionnaire (Kriska's MAQ) administered at baseline, and a one-week prospective activity diary at a randomly determined time. Children were aged 4-18 years. The median time spent in sport or leisure-time physical activity in the preceding year was 7.9 h/week (IQR 4.6 to 12.9). The median time spent in vigorous physical activity was 3.8 h/week (IQR 1.6 to 6.4) and in moderate and vigorous physical activity 6.4 h/week (IQR 3.7 to 10.0). The median small-screen time was 2.5 h/day (IQR 0.5 to 2.5). Forty-five per cent of all children and 61% of children over the age of 10 years played at least one competitive sport. Averaged across one week, 43% of all children met the Australian government physical activity guidelines for children and 36% met the guidelines for small-screen time. This study provides the first data regarding leisure-time physical activity in children with haemophilia living in Australia. The majority of Australian children with haemophilia are not meeting the national physical activity and small-screen time guidelines.
© 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.