Disease Damage in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence and predictors of disease-related damage in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in a resource-limited setting.

Methods: A single-centre study was conducted from January 2021 - December 2022. Children (≤ 18 y) diagnosed with JIA as per International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) criteria, with a disease duration of more than one year, were enrolled for this study. The articular and extra-articular damage was assessed using the juvenile arthritis damage index (JADI) and modified JADI scores. Disease activity and disabilities were evaluated using the clinical juvenile arthritis disease activity score (cJADAS) and Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ).

Results: One hundred and five children [44% (n = 42) boys] with JIA were enrolled in the study. The mean (SD) age of children at enrolment was 158 (46.2) mo. The median (IQR) disease duration was 48 (36-72) mo. Articular damage (JADI score ≥ 1) was present in 48.6%, and extra-articular damage (JADI-E ≥ 1) was observed in 21.9% of children. Half of the children (n = 22) with enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA) had joint damage (modified JADI score ≥ 1). Four children had ocular damage due to uveitis. Among the factors associated with articular damage, the odds of articular damage were high in those with positive rheumatoid factor (RF) and/ or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides (CCPs) [OR: 4.4, 95% CI (1.00-19.60)].

Conclusions: 48.6% of children with JIA had articular damage, while 21.9% of the children had extra-articular damage. Children with RF and/ or anti-CCP positivity are associated with higher odds of joint damage.