Digital Interventions for Patients With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Digital Health
• Pediatric Health

Background:

• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic condition demanding extensive multidisciplinary care.
• Digital interventions offer a potential avenue to enhance patient outcomes and manage JIA effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of digital interventions on symptom alleviation and overall well-being in pediatric JIA patients.
• To analyze the effectiveness of various digital approaches in managing JIA.

Main Methods:

• A systematic meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted across five databases.
• Eleven studies involving 885 patients with JIA were included, assessing outcomes like pain, physical activity, and quality of life.
• Data on intervention functionalities and outcomes were extracted, with risk of bias assessed and results synthesized using a random-effects model.

Main Results:

• Digital interventions significantly reduced pain (SMD -0.19) and increased physical activity (SMD 0.37) in JIA patients.
• Marginal, statistically non-significant improvements were noted in quality of life, self-efficacy, and disease-related issues.
• Evidence quality was moderate for pain and disease-related outcomes, but low for physical activity.

Conclusions:

• Digital interventions demonstrate effectiveness in alleviating pain and enhancing physical activity for individuals with JIA.
• Further high-quality research is necessary due to limited sample sizes and potential bias in existing studies to refine JIA treatment and management.