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Physical activity in children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis compared to controls
G J F Joyce Bos1, Otto T H M Lelieveld2, Wineke Armbrust3
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, PO Box 30001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands. g.j.f.j.bos@umcg.nl.
Insights
Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) show lower physical activity levels (PAL) and more sedentary time than controls. This occurs despite current treatments, indicating a need for improved interventions to boost activity in JIA patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Rheumatology
- Physical Therapy
Background:
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic condition affecting children.
- Understanding physical activity (PA) in JIA is crucial for management.
- Current treatment regimes aim to improve outcomes in JIA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare physical activity levels (PAL) in children with JIA versus healthy controls.
- To analyze the impact of disease-specific factors on PA in JIA patients.
- To evaluate PA in JIA children undergoing current treatment protocols.
Main Methods:
- PA was measured using a 7-day activity diary, assessing PAL, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sedentary time.
- Disease-specific factors in JIA patients included medication, joint status, disease activity, functional ability, pain, and well-being.
- Multivariate regression analysis adjusted for age, BMI, gender, and season to compare groups and identify PA predictors.
Main Results:
- Children with JIA exhibited significantly lower PAL compared to controls, even after adjusting for covariates.
- JIA patients spent less time in MVPA and more time in sedentary activities than controls.
- PA levels in JIA were associated with age, gender, season, well-being, and pain.
Conclusions:
- Children with JIA demonstrate reduced physical activity and increased sedentary behavior compared to their peers.
- These findings persist despite current medical management and recommendations for physical activity.
- Further strategies are needed to enhance physical activity in children with JIA.
Background:
To compare physical activity (PA) in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) with controls and to analyse the effect of disease specific factors on PA in children with JIA treated according to current treatment regimes.
Methods:
PA was measured with a 7-day activity diary and expressed as physical activity level (PAL). Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (hours/day) and sedentary time (hours/day) was determined. In children with JIA, medication, the number of swollen and/or painful joints, disease activity, functional ability, pain and well-being was determined. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to analyze differences in PA between JIA and controls, adjusted for influences of age, gender, season, Body Mass Index (BMI) and to analyze predictors of PA in JIA patients.
Results:
Seventy-six children with JIA (26 boys and 50 girls, mean ± SD age 10.0 ± 1.4 years) and 131 controls (49 boys and 82 girls, mean ± SD age 10.4 ± 1.2 years) participated in this study. Children with JIA had a significantly lower PAL (0.10, p = 0.01) corrected for age, BMI, gender and season. They spent less time in MVPA (0.41 h/day, p = 0.06) and had a significantly higher mean time spent in sedentary activities (0.59 h/day, p 0.02) compared to controls. The activity level of children with JIA was related to age, gender, season, feeling of well-being and pain.
Conclusion:
Children with JIA have a lower PAL, spent less time in MVPA and spent more time on sedentary activities compared to controls despite current medical treatment and PA encouragement.
Trial Registration:
Data of the children with JIA are from the Rheumates@work study ISRCTN92733069 .
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