Assessment of Factor Affecting the Quality of Life in Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Merve Nur Tekin; Ruhan Düşünsel; Nihal Şahin; İsmail Dursun; Betül Sözeri; Sumeyra Özdemir Çiçek; Ayşenur Paç Kısaarslan; Muammer Hakan Poyrazoğlu

doi:10.51271/jpea-2022-163

Authors

Merve Nur Tekin Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4541-5704
Ruhan Düşünsel Department of Pediatric Nephrology and Rheumatology, Yeditepe University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0599-7199
Nihal Şahin Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Bursa City Hospital, Bursa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2122-6952
İsmail Dursun Department of Pediatric Nephrology and Rheumatology, Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Kayseri https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0191-4344
Betül Sözeri Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, University of Health Sciences Istanbul Umraniye Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0358-6409
Sumeyra Özdemir Çiçek Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Kayseri City Hospital, Kayseri https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3290-4413
Ayşenur Paç Kısaarslan Department of Pediatric Nephrology and Rheumatology, Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Kayseri https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1800-9922
Muammer Hakan Poyrazoğlu Department of Pediatric Nephrology and Rheumatology, Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Kayseri https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5142-8432

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51271/jpea-2022-163

Keywords:

Anxiety, chronic disease, depression, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, quality of life

Abstract

Abstract

Introduction and Objectives: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a frequently seen chronic rheumatoid disease in childhood, which may cause disability and severely affect quality of life (QoL). The aim of present study was to assess relationships between disease activation and socio-cultural status of family, QoL, anxiety level, and depression level in patients with JIA and their parents.

Methods: The study included 100 patients with JIA. The socio-demographic data were obtained from all patients. Child- and parent-reported PedsQL, Beck depression inventory (BDI), Kovacs' Child Depression Inventory (CDI), SCARED child version, CHAQ discomfort and disability scales were applied and JADAS-27 score was calculated in a cross-sectional manner. Then, we compared the characteristics of patients with the scales’ results.

Results: JADAS-27, BDI, and CHAQ discomfort scores were higher and child- and parent-reported PedsQL scores were lower in patients with active disease than patients on remission (p<0.05). The SCARED score was higher in girls than boys. The CHAQ disability score was high in children aged 8-12 years (p<0.05). JADAS-27 and CHAQ disability scores were significantly low in patients with better compliance to treatment. Parental statements about changes in mental health after diagnosis were consistent with results of depression and anxiety scales of children.

Conclusions: Quality of life is adversely affected in children with JIA, which may result in depression and anxiety. In management of JIA, one of our goals should be maintaining QoL. Further comprehensive studies in relationships between QoL and depression, anxiety, socio-demographic parameters, disease activation and social circle of patient are needed.