[Repost: Functional and Psychological Outcome in Adults with Juvenile Chronic Arthritis]

January 15, 2005

Functional and Psychological Outcome in Adults with Juvenile Chronic

Arthritis

Although several studies have evaluated functional outcome in rheumatoid

arthritis (RA) patients with childhood onset, reports regarding

psychological and social aspects of the disease are still scarce.

Objective: to analyze disease activity , functional and psychological

status in adults pts with JCA (EULAR’77), followed since 1975 .

Inclusion Criteria:* age at evaluation >18 yrs,*disease duration >5 yrs.

Methods: On a specially designed protocol form,the following data was

entered: disease activity (DA), assessed by active joint count, pain by

VAS , patient and physician global assessment scale for DA; functional

disability by the Health Asssessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and the

Steinbrocker Score ; educational achievement ( compared with siblings),

employment status, marital status and degree of satisfaction with life

and activities able to performed were assessed by a special quetionnaire.

Statistics analysis: descriptive and non- parametric tests were used

Results: Data were available of 70 pts (49 females).Median age 30 yrs,

mean time disease evolution 22 yrs. Fifty- eight pts had a polyarticular

course and 12 an olygoarticular one.

At evaluation , 21 out of 50 (42%) persisted with active disease , 23

(33%) had undergone joint replacement surgery. Although 22 of them were

in functional class III-IV, the mean HAQ score was 0.86.

Sixty-nine, completed similar level of education than siblings ,

reaching 42% a tertiary level.

Eighty-three percent sustained an active social life, 19 (27%) got

married and all had children..

Fifty-five (79%) are involved in full or part time employment, most of

them of administrative type and 70 % assured to be satisfied with his/

her life and activities able to performed.

Conclusions:In spite 42% pts remain with active disease and the 31.5% in

functional Class III-IV, JCA seems not to affect the level of education,

social life, possibility to marry in these pts, 79 % of them have an

active job. Variables of DA and functional capacity, mainly HAQ score

were significantly higher in polyarticular pts.

Graciela Espada, a Weissbrod, a Gagliardi, José A.

Maldonado-Cocco. Instituto de Rehabilitacion Psicofisica.Fundacion

Reumatologica argentina Dr Osvaldo Morteo, Buenos aires, Argentina

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