Abstract
last follow-up visit (r=0.446, p<0.001). The presence of disease activity was correlated with higher degree of depression (p=0.032) and social dysfunction (p=0.008). Interestingly, patients without or with mild physical disability (HAQ-DI=0-0.49) differed from those with moderate-to-severe disability (HAQ-DI=0.5-3) in the fields of somatization (p=0.004) and social dysfunction (p<0.001), but not of depression. Higher degree of depression was recorded in the unemployed patients (p=0.018) and in those with mandatory education (p=0.018). In contrast, structural damage (JADI-A, TmSvdHS), marital status and current use or duration of corticosteroid treatment didn’ tf ind to influence patients’ psychosocial profile. Global disease activity as rated by the patient, was found to be the only significant predictor of psychosocial distress in the multivariate analysis [B=0.057 95%CI (0.017, 0.097), P=0.005]. Conclusion Psychosocial distress is evident in a considerable proportion of the patients (~19%), indicating a constant impact of the disease on every-day life. The tight control of disease activity is therefore crucial in order to prevent symptoms of depression in these JIA adults.
Highlights
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) seems to have a negative impact on patients’ life style mostly due to the disease chronicity
Structural damage was scored by the Juvenile Arthritis Damage Index-Articular (JADI-A) and by the Total modified Sharp/van der Heijde Score (TmSvdHS)
Global disease activity as rated by the patient, was found to be the only significant predictor of psychosocial distress in the multivariate analysis [B=0.057 95%CI (0.017, 0.097), P=0.005]
Summary
Psychosocial distress was assessed by the Greek version of the self-completed paper-based General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). A second questionnaire regarding marital status, education level and employment status was completed by all patients. Disease activity status at the last follow-up visit was assessed according to the Wallace’s criteria, while the level of disease activity by the Disease Activity Score (DAS-28). The presence of disease activity was correlated with higher degree of depression (p=0.032) and social dysfunction (p=0.008). Structural damage (JADI-A, TmSvdHS), marital status and current use or duration of corticosteroid treatment didn’t find to influence patients’ psychosocial profile. Global disease activity as rated by the patient, was found to be the only significant predictor of psychosocial distress in the multivariate analysis [B=0.057 95%CI (0.017, 0.097), P=0.005]
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