A Study of Health-Related Quality of Life in Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and its Relation to Disease Prognoses

Abstract

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is one of the most common rheumatic disease of children and a major cause of chronic physical disability. Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is not a single disease, It Is a group of diseases of unknown etiology, which are manifested by chronic joint inflammation. It is characterized by an idiopathic synovitis of the peripheral joints, associated with soft tissue swelling and effusion. The aim of this study was to: Assess the health related –Quality of life (HRQOL) in children with Juvenile Idiopathic arthritis. Detect the relationship between treatment satisfaction and maintenance of positive physical and psychosocial well-being. Subject& methods: 50 patient with JIA non complicated cases, 50 patient with JIA complicated cases and 50 apparently healthy control matched with age and sex matched children of the same social background by using Health Related Quality Of Life (HRQOL) questionnaire - Peds QL. version 3.o arthritis module, (8-12)years and children (12-18) years children Questionnaire and parent-proxy Questionnaire include many items to measure the score physical, emotional, social, school and well being Results: Health Related Quality Of Life (HRQOL) of the patients varied according to the type and duration of the disease. According to child problems there was higher statistically significant rate with pain, daily activities and side effect of medications with poly and systemic type and less significant with feeling and school and according to parent problems show higher statistically significant with poor and moderate score in physical and social problems. Statistically difference between cases and control according to father education and occupation and no statistically significant difference between cases and control as regard mother occupation P>0.05. the frequency of JIA more in the female patient than male (3:1) and the pauciarticular type was most common type. Positive strong correlation and statistically significant between age and duration of the disease P<0.001. Also show systemic corticosteroid were (65.7%) highest frequency in polyarticular type. Lower quality of life of children with JIA and there parents than control. Conclusion:. Children with more symptoms, polyarticular of JIA are poorer quality of life than oligoarticular. Early diagnoses and effective therapy of JIA have good prognoses and less complications. Quality of life in children with JIA depends on disease subtype and outcome. As the child's QOL decreases parental stress increases.