John Elflein
Research expert covering health and health care
Bleeding disorders - Statistics & Facts
Bleeding disorders affect the clotting of blood and can result in excessive bleeding inside and outside of the body. Bleeding disorders are almost always inherited and common symptoms include easy bruising, frequent nosebleeds, heavy menstrual bleeding, and excessive bleeding from small cuts. Treatments vary depending on the type of disorder, but may include factor replacement therapy, iron supplementation, topical products or sprays, or blood transfusions. The most common types of bleeding disorders are hemophilia A and B and von Willebrand disease. In 2022, there were around 257,146 people worldwide who had been diagnosed with hemophilia and 100,505 who had been diagnosed with von Willebrand disease.
Hemophilia
Hemophilia is perhaps the most well-known bleeding disorder. There are three types of hemophilia - hemophilia A, the most common type, hemophilia B, also called Christmas disease, and hemophilia C, the rarest type. In 2022, it was estimated that around 14,200 people in the United States had been diagnosed with hemophilia A, while around 4,400 had been diagnosed with hemophilia B. Hemophilia is more common among males than females, with around 91 percent of hemophilia A cases worldwide occurring among males. Modern treatments for hemophilia have greatly increased the life quality and expectancy of those suffering from the disorder. Before current available treatments, the life expectancy of someone with hemophilia was only 30 years, but today someone diagnosed with this disorder can expect to live up to 68 years on average.Von Willebrand disease
In 2022, it was estimated that almost 14 thousand people in the United States had been diagnosed with von Willebrand disease (VWD). Much like with hemophilia, VWD also has several types, most commonly type 1, type 2, and type 3. As of 2023, females accounted for about 68 percent of all type 1 VWD patients, while they accounted for 51 percent of type 3 VWD patients. VWD is most commonly inherited from a parent and is much more prevalent among the white population in the U.S. than among other races. Although there is no cure for VWD, with self-care and quality treatment, most of those diagnosed are able to lead active lives.
