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ACR presentation: Physical disability for JIA patients declined in past 25 years
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SAN DIEGO — Levels of disease activity and physical disability have progressively declined during the past 25 years for children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, according to research being presented at the American College of Rheumatology annual meeting.
“The observation of a progressive decline in the levels of disease activity and physical disability in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis [JIA] means that pediatric rheumatologists may be more optimistic to children and their parents about disease prognosis and may also reassure them that the child is much less likely to develop damage to joints and impairment in physical function,” researcher Angelo Ravelli, MD, associate professor of pediatrics, University of Genova, said in a press release.
Angelo Ravelli
Ravelli and fellow researchers in Italy retrieved clinical information of 6,502 visits by 1,079 children with JIA from January 1987 to March 2012. Visits were divided by time intervals: 1987-1995 (n=826), 1996-2000 (n=1,337), 2001-2005 (n=2,022) and 2006-1012 (n=2,317). Physicians’ and parents’ global ratings (0-10 cm visual analog scale, VAS), parents’ pain ratings and swollen joint counts, pain on motion/tenderness and active disease were measures of disease activity. Joints with restrictive motion and a physical function tool (0-10 scale; 0=best; 10=worst) were used as disability measures.
Physicians’ global ratings improved from 5.4 in 1988-1996 to 2 in 2006-2012; active joints, from 8.2 to 2.2; and restricted joints, from 8 to 1.9 during the same periods. Parents’ global ratings went from 2.8 in 1996-2000 to 2.1 in 2006-2012 and parents’ pain ratings dropped from 2.5 to 1.9 across the same time. Physical function improved from 1.7 in 1996-2000 to 0.4 in 2006-2012.
“The next step is to compare this data with that obtained in the next two to five years, when the impact of the newer biologic medications (namely tocilizumab, canakinumab and rilonacept) will be noted particularly in the care of systemic JIA, which is one of the most severe forms of JIA,” Ravelli concluded.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
For more information:
Consolaro A. Abstract 296: Declines in Levels of Disease Activity and Physical Disability in Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Seen in Standard Clinical Care over the Last 25 years. Presented at: the 2013 American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting; Oct. 26-30, San Diego.